COIMBATORE: Heavy rain and strong winds led to frequent power outages across Coimbatore city on Friday night, as tree branches fell on power lines in many locations.
Officials from the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (TNPDCL) said power supply was restored in most places within two hours. The rains, which lasted from 6 pm to 10 pm on Friday, caused power disruptions at around 12 locations in the Coimbatore Metro Circle.
"In few places, overhead wires snapped due to strong winds. But all faults were attended to immediately and power supply was restored within two hours," said an official.
Over the past few days, summer showers in suburban areas damaged trees and disrupted power in multiple locations. A similar situation was reported in the Coimbatore Metro Circle on Friday, officials added.
Besides, they said TNPDCL is planning to resume monthly maintenance shutdowns after a gap of four months, which was suspended due to school board exams and the Assembly election. Under the regular system, each sub-station jurisdiction is allotted one day every month for maintenance. Power supply is shut down from 9 am to 4 pm after advance notice, and repair work is carried out in areas under that sub-station.
During the election period, there was a feat that power outages would be used as a shield to carry out illegal activities such as bribing of voters and providing freebies at night.
"We were told not to impose shutdowns while the Model Code of Conduct was in force. Now that it has been withdrawn, we are planning to restart the old system for maintenance," an official said.
However, officials added that full-scale implementation may wait until the new government is formed.
"There is a suggestion to implement it fully after the new government takes charge. Meanwhile, pre-monsoon maintenance is pending in several areas. We have decided to take minimum two-hour shutdowns to complete urgent repair work. This will start next week. If the new government is formed by then, we will switch to the regular one-day-a-month maintenance shutdown," the official said.
