Date:17/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/17/stories/2008101759540500.htm

Tamil Nadu

Residents protest breakdown at EB collection centre at Medavakkam

Special Correspondent

They allege that they faced similar problems earlier too

TAMBARAM: Residents of Pallikaranai, who came to pay their electricity bill at the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board collection centre at Medavakkam near Tambaram, staged protest on Thursday following disruption of services.

There are six counters at the centre, meant for collecting cash from residents of Pallikaranai, Jalladampettai, Medavakkam, Sithalapakkam and nearby places. While four of them were functioning normally, those meant for collecting cash from residents of Pallikaranai did not function owing to a technical breakdown.

Residents were upset as Thursday was the last day for making payments without fine and said they faced similar problems earlier too.

EB officials promise remedy

They protested near the office, but were pacified and dispersed after personnel from the Pallikaranai police station came to the spot.

EB officials said they were attending to the problem and also made arrangements for opening the two counters between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Thursday to enable subscribers to make the payments without fine.

Similar problems are often witnessed at the collection centre in Madipakkam.