Power supply only after building completion certificate

In the latest circular on effecting electricity service connections, Tangedco’s commercial wing chief engineer said that instructions have been issued from time to time in the matter of providing power connections to the buildings in the state to obtain completion certificate wherever necessary pursuant to the orders of the High Court.

The Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department have notified the TNCDB rules 2019 which came into effect from February 4, 2019. “As per the rule, for all buildings, the applicant shall submit a completion report, to obtain completion certificate, certifying that the building is completed as per the approved plan, by the competent authority who has issued planning permit and that the service providers such as water and electricity shall provide such service only after production of completion certificate. No such connections shall be made without the prior permission of the authority and without obtaining completion certificate. In case the usage of the building is changed or unauthorised construction is made, the authority is authorised to discontinue such services or cause a discontinuance of such service,” the circular said.

However, it said that residential building up to 12 metres height not exceeding three dwelling units, other buildings up to 750 square metres and all industrial buildings are out of the purview of the TNCDB rules, 2019.

Tangedco circular noted that according to the rules, production of completion certificate would not apply to constructions in progress as per the valid approved plans accorded on or before February 4, 2019, including subsequent renewal period. “However, in case of construction of building already in progress or construction completed, prior to February 4, 2019, in respect of multistoried buildings with stilt plus four floors or ground plus three floors and above alone in the CMDA area, the earlier instruction requiring to insist planning permission and completion certificate for effecting electricity service connections, shall be continued to be followed,” it said.

The circular insisted the officials follow scrupulously the provisions in the Tamil Nadu Electricity Supply Code, 2004 and or the TN Electricity Distribution Code, 2004 and Electricity Act, 2003 on other aspects.

The state government’s order to increase the fee for using motors with increased Horse Power (HP) than the prescribed level had drawn flak from the farmers and politicians as they urged it to take back the order.

“At a time when farmers are reeling under severe pressure due to COVID-19 pandemic, the state had passed an order to hike the fees for motors with higher HP. The order is a direct assault on the farmers and state should take the order back,” said U Perumal, treasurer, Tamil Nadu Farmers Union.

The state permits the usage of motors with 5 HP and 7.5 HP but as the groundwater levels had reached more than 1,000 feet, farmers are forced to use motors with more than 12 HP to draw water for irrigation. Recently, the state had passed an order stating that farmers using motors with HP higher than the prescribed limits had to pay Rs 20,000 per HP.

Perumal points out that farmers had to pay an additional of minimum Rs 1 lakh to maximum of Rs 2 lakh in cases to the state in this difficult times. Adding burden to the owes of the farmers, the Central government had now canceled the free electricity which state government should fight to get back, said Perumal.

Similarly, MDMK founder Vaiko too had condemned the new order. “In the recent years, the monsoon is erratic as it had failed farmers on several occasions forcing them to rely on ground water for irrigation. Excess reliance on ground water had pushed the water levels beyond 1,000 feet which had forced farmers to use motors with high HP,” said Vaiko.

Now, the order is a direct assault on farmers and there is a doubt lingering on every farmer that the state and Centre are forcing them to move out of farming, said Vaiko.