Oomachikulam and S. Alangulam areas are facing frequent and long power cuts for the past three days. While power is available for around five to six hours during daytime, there is complete blackout at night, residents complain.
Protesting this blackout, residents of S. Alangulam took to the streets between 9.30 p.m. and 10.30 p.m. on Saturday against Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO).
A. Selvapandi, a small-business owner from Indira Nagar in Oomachikulam, said she and her two sons did not get a wink of sleep in the past two days because of the harsh summer heat even at night. “Tube lights, fans, fridge, mixer, motor ... everything did not function for three days. Even if we decide to sleep outside home, we could not, because of mosquitoes. Children were cranky alll the time,” she said.
R. Raja, a resident of J. J. Nagar, said since they could not switch on the motor, they had to buy water. “We do not know when our plights will end,” he said.
C. Subramanian, a resident of Vinayagarkoil Street, said only low voltage electricity was available during daytime, making it difficult for residents to perform day-to-day functions.
M. Ramasubramanian, who represented the residents, said officials did not give a concrete reply when they narrated their problems, leading to confusion. “There is proper supply in Oomachikulam and the problem persists only in the adjoining areas,” he said.
An official from Tiruppalai substation which directs supply to MG Nagar substation, which in turn supplies electricity to these areas, said their phones had been ringing non-stop for the past three days. “We have found faults in three spots along a four-km cable line located six feet below the ground. Workers are fixing them day and night,” he said. Tiruppalai substation was overburdened and kept tripping often. “The matter will be resolved in two days. We have no other choice,” he said.