Citizen Connect: Frequent power cuts amid heatwave leave residents of Nethaji Colony sleepless

The area which comes under the Vanuvampet electricity board faces blackout for nearly half-an-hour to one hour every day. The thickly populated residential area has approximately 750 houses, which are grievously affected due to power failure. Padma Priya a resident of that area for the past nine years said, “When we are about to switch on the AC after a tiring day, the power goes off at 10.30 pm. They usually restore it by 11 pm but this has been a problem for a while”. The residents said that power cuts take them by surprise as sometimes it happens at irregular intervals.

On the night of June 11, the area faced a power failure for nearly 12 hours after a transformer in the area burst. The EB was able to up the power only by 8 am so the residents had to go through a sleepless night. “Power cuts at nights are miserable when there are kids in the house,” said Padma Priya.

The area has been witnessing such problems for some time now. “Transformers in the area are tattered. We have ordered for new ones. The problem will be fixed once they get,” assured Rajesh, Assistant engineerof Vanuvampet Electricity Board.

“Our area is actually better in comparison. Some other areas face power cuts for 2-3 hours daily. I have an inverter so most of the time I’m unaware of the power cuts. I have tried contacting the EB several times and the number would always remain engaged,” said Krishnamurthy, secretary of Nethaji colony welfare association.

However, when contacted, an official at Vanuvampet Electricity Board on the condition of anonymity denied the charges of daily power cut in the area.