Chennai: The state power discom has instructed all field officers to engage additional manpower to restore power supply in case of failures in the distribution network during summer. Experts, however, warn that allowing unskilled labour to indulge in high-risk jobs will lead to complications.For Chennai and surrounding districts, up to eight personnel could be engaged by each assistant engineer to take care of respective jurisdiction, and six personnel are approved in hill stations such as Ooty and Kodaikanal.
Other sections could engage five personnel for 120 days from Feb 1 to May 31. They are appointed through contractors, and executive engineers have floated tenders for interim recruitment of supporting staff.A TN Power Distribution Corporation Ltd (TNPDCL) official said these men would support wiremen and gangmen. “They will dig roads to address issues with underground cables and help wiremen attend to overhead cables,” he said. Areas such as T Nagar have appointed five personnel.Experts in the field, however, say engaging untrained personnel in high-risk jobs could make the problem worse and even lead to deaths. A gangman died of electrocution in KK Nagar in 2023 as he was forced to work on the underground power supply network. “There are many skilled labourers with proper grade certificates, and they should be given priority,” said M Nagalingam of the Tamilnadu Electricians Welfare Association.“Engaging unqualified persons for major TNPDCL work is a violation. Sadly, it is happening rampantly. The state should create a pool of qualified persons,” said former chief electrical inspector Appavoo Subbiya.
