In the aftermath of Cyclone Gaja, Tangedco has managed to restore power supply to most of the domestic connections in affected areas of delta region. However, hundreds of farmers still await restoration of power supply to their agricultural connections.
The power supply took a big hit in Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur and Pudukottai districts minutes after the cyclone wreaked havoc on the electricity infrastructure. Thousands of electric poles and transformers were uprooted, throwing power supply out of gear for several days.
As many as 36,74,000 connections went without power. Official data shows that supply has been restored to 35,98,000 connections — most of them domestic. But progress has been slow in restoration of supply to agricultural connections, allege farmers.
One estimate shows supply is yet to be restored to 50,000 agricultural connections. Farmers complain of shoddy progress in restoring power utilities in Pattukottai, Peravurani, Orathanadu, Sethubavachathiram, Thiruvonam, Thiruthuraipoondi and neighbouring areas.
“We appreciate the work of electricity workers in restoring power supply to domestic connections. I have two agricultural connections. But there is no sign of restoring power supply to them. We have time and again taken up the issue with the officials,” V. Veerasenan, a farmer of Ponnavarayankottai near Pattukottai, said.
Farmers say the issue has severely hit the progress of samba cultivation in tail-end areas of Thanjavur and Tiruvarur districts, where farmers mainly depend upon pump sets for irrigation due to inadequate supply of water in Grand Anaicut Canal and Vennaru.
“The current flow in Grand Anaicut Canal is highly inadequate to standing paddy crops in Pattukottai, Peravurani and other tail-end areas. We have no options other than pump set for irrigation. But the farmers face an uphill task in irrigating standing crops due to absence of power supply,” said Swamimalai S. Vimalanathan, district secretary, Cauvery Farmers Protection Association, Thanjavur.
A senior official of Tangedco told The Hindu that priority was given for restoration of power supply to domestic and drinking water connections. More than 90% of domestic connections had been restored. Now, attention had turned towards restoring power supply to agricultural connections. Progress was being closely monitored.