Suburbs to get UG cables in phases
The Tangedco would soon carry out the conversion of overhead lines into underground cables in extended areas of Chennai Corporation at a cost of Rs 2,567 crore funded by Power Finance Corporation and the process of procurement of materials had also been started.
By : migrator
Update: 2017-11-03 19:46 GMT
Chennai
The first phase of underground cable work would be taken up at Kalivanthapattu near Maramalai Nagar, Taramani and Sriperumbudur at a cost of Rs 558 crore, Tangedco officials said.
The entire area of the old Chennai Corporation had been covered by underground cables, but laying of such cables is to be taken up in the suburbs newly attached to the corporation. Immediately after Cyclone Vardha, the department had sought Rs 13,512 crore from the Centre to convert light tension overhead lines to underground cables. In the extended areas of Chennai Corporation, the underground cables must be laid for a distance of 1.56 lakh km.
The Tangedco would need Rs 1,108 crore for conversion of HT lines into UG cables. Besides conversion of overhead lines, transformers must be replaced by ring main units and the total budget at the present estimate would be Rs 17,214 crore, officials added.
An official admitted that the live wire left across the street at Kodungaiyur was a case of negligence and all the electricity cables in the area have already been laid underground.
The officials said the Tangedco is very keen to replace overhead lines since it would reduce their work burden in times of cyclone and rains. The UG cables would prevent accidents and it would also reduce the maintenance works to a large extent.
At present, the department personnel were spending much time in trimming the trees near the electric poles to avoid friction and accidents.
In Chennai suburbs, many apartments had been built near the transmission lines and UG cables would provide more safety. The department was willing to carry out the conversion as soon as possible depending on the funds available to it, he stressed.
Vaiko blames govt for not raising height of pillar boxes
MDMK general secretary Vaiko on Friday said one of the major reasons for the death of two children in Kodungaiyur due to electrocution was the low level of the pillar box. Questioning the government proposal to increase the height of such boxes, Vaiko said nearly 80 per cent of the work is pending. He also said that the Veeranam Lake is overflowing due to improper desilting. He demanded an explanation from the Chief Minister 0n this issue. He also wanted the CM to expedite flood relief works in Cuddalore, Nagapattinam and Tiruvarur districts.
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