The Hindu : Power cuts frequent at Chromepet, Pallavaram, say residents

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 12, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu-Chennai

Power cuts frequent at Chromepet, Pallavaram, say residents

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI JAN. 11. Residents of Chromepet and Pallavaram have complained of frequent power cuts, erratic supply and delay in execution of projects at a recent grievance meeting of the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board.

The president of the Federation of Civic and Welfare associations of Pallavaram Municipality, V. Santhanam, has pointed out that the municipality paid Rs. 4.74 lakhs to the TNEB for installing 156 streetlights in August last year. The streets were yet be illuminated, he said and sought a reason for the delay.

The TNEB was collecting charges from the local body for the existing streetlights on an approximate basis, he said and pointed out that a reason for the delay in the completion of the MIT Road Over Bridge was due to failure of the board to shift electricity posts. Senior officials said orders had been placed for purchase of equipment for streetlights and the work would be completed before March.

On the reported delay in completion of the MIT Bridge, the officials said once land was allotted to them work on shifting the EB posts would be executed.

On collection of charges for streetlights, they said an arrangement would soon be worked out.

A representative from the IHFD Nagar in Pallavaram said registering complaints at the fuse-off call centre over telephone was a frustrating experience. Officials said modernisation plans were on the anvil and that even now, complaints could be registered on the number 1912.

Further, they were conducting regular checks at the fuse-off call centres. The officials also sought cooperation from the residents and associations to ensure that areas around transformers and EB posts were kept clean.

While residents made a volley of critical remarks, owners of industrial units in the Madras Export Processing Zone (MEPZ) went into raptures over the dedication of the EB staff.

However, one unit owner complained of a "big brotherly" attitude of the TNEB and said he had applied for reduction in power supplied to his unit. However, he was informed a couple of months later that he had to pay arrears for reduction in power supply.

Citing TNEB rules, he said arrears had to be cleared only in the case of power enhancement. Officials counselled him to present his case to the Member Secretary (Finance).

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