The floods have caused widespread damage to the city and Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (Tangedco) is no exception. A senior official of Tangedco put the losses in the three districts of Chennai, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur at Rs. 883 crore. Topping the list is Kancheepuram with Rs. 370 crore, Chennai at Rs. 349 crore and Tiruvallur, at Rs. 164 crore.
The utility, which is already incurring losses due to purchase of power from outside, did not expect the natural calamity to add to their problems.
The official said areas in Chennai South and parts of Kancheepuram, through which the Adyar river flows, saw a trail of destruction to the transmission and distribution network of the Corporation. The financial loss has been attributed to flooding of electricity substations, damage to cables and transformers and replacement of breakers and battery chargers, he added.
Those areas suffering from severe flooding in Tambaram, Mudichur, and Manimangalam, which were on the upper basin of Adyar, witnessed heavy damage to transformers and cable network. Similarly, the flooding of the substations in Guindy, Taramani, KITS Park in Perumbakkam and Siruseri and the expenditure in engaging manpower to restart these substations added to the losses, the official said.
When asked whether the financial loss caused by damage to the substations and transmission network could have been averted by securing an insurance policy, the official said insurance was not secured for transmission facilities due to practical difficulties in ascertaining their value in different locations.
The transmission facility is protected only by warranty, but not covered in the event of a flooding.
However, insurance is available only for power generating assets such as plant and machinery, the official added.
