The gradual restoration of power supply notwithstanding, residents of some localities prefer to meet their water needs in the aftermath of Gaja cyclone by hiring generators for operating the borewell motors to fill their overhead tanks.
Hiring of generator sets is commonplace in localities in Tirumaiyam, Pudukottai and Aranthangi areas. The hiring charge hovers around ₹1,000 an hour, which is perceived to be high by a section of residents. However, genset operators say the charge is quite reasonable since there are quite a few overheads that include hire charges for mini-door vehicle, wages for driver and workers and the cost of diesel.
According to Shanmugam, a genset operator, the cost of diesel alone works out to ₹300 if the motor is operated continuously for an hour. It is not possible to operate the gen set for more than six to seven hours in a day since considerable distance has to be covered to reach customers living in different parts of the district.
On other days, generators are rented out for family functions for daily hire charges. The daily hire charge for a generator set is ₹4000. But there is not much demand. The operators get orders for only four or five times a month.
According to Guna, another operator, the hiring charge for generators become unreasonable only if it exceeds ₹ 1,000 an hour. At many other places, the volunteers of Makkal Needhi Maiyam are at work providing generators at nominal hire charges for households. But, the cost of diesel has to be borne by the customers.
The gen set operators say there is no windfall gain but are not able to rule out presence of a few among them who make quick buck during the crisis situation by charging in excess of ₹1,300 an hour.