With a large number of transformers developing some snag or the other, the district administration has drafted a special three-pronged plan for eliminating technical problems.
The plan aimed at immediate maintenance; enhancement of capacity and de-linking of the problem-prone transformers from domestic connections, said B. Maheswari, Collector.
Addressing agriculturists at the Farmers Grievances Day meeting held here on Thursday, Ms. Maheswari said that a total of 349 transformers had developed snags till date during the current fiscal from April 1 at various places in the district.
Of them, repair and maintenance works had been carried out on 282 transformers, while the balance 67 units were under maintenance on the basis of seniority of the date of developing the snag.
When a cross section of farmers complained that any delay in the restoration of the transformer often affected the agricultural operation, the Collector clarified that the District administration had evolved a special strategy to solve the issue on war-footing.
She said that an “overload committee”, set up by the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation, had identified 463 transformers which developed technical snags due to excess power consumption by the agricultural pumpsets. Use of condenser was another problem.
Realising the farmers' plight, the committee had suggested capacity enhancement for 113 transformers from the present 63 KVA to 100 KVA. Orders have been sanctioned for increasing the capacity of 25 transformers in the first phase.
This apart, a total of 350 new transformers would be provided in phases. In the first phase, 25 areas had been identified and 17 units had already been supplied to needy places.
The committee found that the combined supply of power to agricultural pumpsets, overhead tanks and domestic connections destabilised a transformer. New units would de-link the overhead tanks and domestic connections from the agricultural pump sets.
The Collector appealed to the farmers to desist from excess withdrawal of power. An official from the TANGEDCO appealed to the farmers to desist from the use of condensers for the withdrawal of excess power. The planting of saplings of trees beside the transmission in lines caused the trip in supply during the monsoon or due to strong winds.
Minister apprised
S. P. Muthukumaran, MLA, who was present, said that he had apprised the State Electricity Minister of the problem prevailing in the district, following which immediate action had been taken.
He appealed to officials to minimise the delay in clearing the seniority-based technical problem.
Lucrative cultivation suggested
The Collector appealed to the farmers to take to lucrative cultivation techniques, including sericulture and off-shore fish farm development. In this context, the Collector referred to the success of a few entrepreneurs in the coastal village of Manalmelkudi. She appealed to the farmers to take maximum advantage of the counselling being offered by the agriculture officials at each and every panchayat in the district periodically.
Earlier, the Collector inaugurated an exhibition organised by Sericulture Department.
