CHENNAI: North Chennai is facing a blackout risk as grid security is threatened due to chemical pollution and garbage along power transmission lines, according to top electricity board officials.
The blackout of north Chennai and certain parts of central Chennai on Wednesday around 9:43 pm was due to tripping of six 400 KV feeder lines and eight 230 KV feeder lines from north Chennai generating station due to chemical pollution, gusty winds, saline deposition, resulting in loss of generation, explained an official with Tamil Nadu Transmission Corporation.
The impact was such that Kilpauk, Tondiarpet, Manali, Basin Bridge, Ennore, Korattur, Mylapore, Vyasarpadi, Sembium, Athipattu, Elephant Gate, Kathputli Desalination Plant, Royapuram were blacked out.
Officials said the issue is garbage dumped along transmission lines in Burma Colony and Kargil Nagar behind Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited. “Garbage nearly submerges the transmission lines and poses a big threat to grid security,” the official warned. “Last year, we faced a similar problem and Chennai Corporation immediately swung into action and cleared the garbage. This year again we are facing the same problem and we will now be asking Chennai Corporation to take immediate measures to clear it. A permanent solution is required,” the official added.
“Transmission lines are engulfed by dust particles from cement industry as well as from Chennai Petroleum Corporation. It gets accumulated on the insulators of the 230 KV high-tension power lines that are transmitting electricity between the North Chennai Thermal Power Station (NCTPS) and Tondiarpet distribution station. When moist wind breezes past the transmission line, it bursts,” the official said.
The power cut also happened in the wake of the Vallur Thermal Power Station, a joint venture with Tangedco, cutting off 1,000 MW of power to Tamil Nadu. It has three units of 500 MW each and State’s share is 1,065 MW. “We are not facing any power crisis. The demand is not that high. We are also releasing wind energy into the grid now,” the official said.
“We never had any power issues in the State except during Cyclone Vardah which is a natural disaster. Tripping is a man-made disaster. We hope the pollution control board springs into action and reduces pollution,” the official said.