Chennai: Residents of Ranganathapuram and Kamaraj Nagar West in Thiruvanmiyur have been facing frequent power cuts and voltage fluctuations, which they attribute to frequent tripping of the distribution transformer. They allege that the transformer is affected by hot air coming directly from the chimney of a mess located nearby. According to city activist O Unnikrishnan, the mess has encroached upon the space designated for the transformer and related equipment, including RMUs and pillar boxes. “The chimney of the pipe also touches the transformer, posing a serious risk of fire or electric shock,” he said. “The supply of electricity to the mess is in violation of applicable rules,” he added. Unnikrishnan, a resident of Ranganathapuram, cited Rule 12(B) of the Tamil Nadu Electricity Distribution Code, according to which an open space of 10×4 m or 5×5 m is mandatory for installation of structure-based transformers and related switchgear. According to Rule 29(13), an access road of at least 3 metres wide must be provided from the public road to the electrical room or open space designated for the transformer and switchgear.
“But not even a metre of space is available to reach the transformer located behind the mess. The field staff of TNPDCL, including linemen and line inspectors who repair faults, hide the encroachment from higher authorities,” he alleged. “They are posted in the same area for decades in violation of service rules.” Unnikrishnan also pointed out that power outages occur frequently without prior SMS alerts, which is a violation of electricity consumer rules. He urged immediate action to remove chimneys and kitchens encroaching on the transformer space. An executive engineer of TNPDCL’s Adyar division told DT Next that he had inspected the transformer after receiving complaints and admitted that there was not enough space to reach it. “We have asked the assistant engineer of the Tiruvanmiyur section to issue a notice for the tampering, citing the safety hazards to equipment and nearby structures,” he added. “It’s not just the tampering — a few other small shops have also encroached around the transformer that was installed decades ago.”
