Protest ignored, another substation operation in TN goes to private firm

TANTRANSCO has already decided to award a similar contract to private parties to carry out day-to-day operations and emergency breakdown at night and on holidays in three substations at Sankarapuram, Kallakurichi and Samayanallur amid strong protest from the Joint Action Councill of Tamil Nadu Electricity Board Trade Unions.

All trade unions in Tangedco and TANTRANSCO came together to hold protest across the State on November 4 against various measures taken by the management, including awarding the contract to maintain substations, engaging retired engineers and CMD’s refusal to hold talks with the workers’ representatives.

TANTRANSCO chief engineer, System Operation, N Kannan, in the order, said that the Corporation approves the proposal to entrust day to day operations, maintenance and emergency breakdown at night and on holidays for two years under works contract at the new Tirupattur 230/110 KV Substation at an estimated cost of Rs 93.67 lakh.

Trade union leaders said that Electricity Minister P Thangamani has been insisting that the state government would not allow the attempts being made by the centre to privatise the electricity distribution companies but Tangedco has been issuing work contracts to carry out day-to-day activities on the other hand.