Chennai: The helpline meant to report power cuts is itself going off the grid. Minnagam, the grievance redressal number 94987 94987 used by consumers to report power cuts, low voltage, billing issues and other problems, has been going out of reach, leaving frustrated callers with little more than a beep when they desperately try to register a complaint.TNPDCL itself is to be blamed for Minnagam’s going out of reach because it could not provide a reliable power supply to its call centre. Inquiries with officials reveal that the power backup for such a helpline is only for 10 minutes. “Minnagam call centre is powered by Mylapore 230kV substation. Whenever the substation develops a glitch, the helpline goes offline after the issue is not restored within 10 minutes,” said an official.TNPDCL replaced the mobile numbers of field officers, but did not publicise it much. Many consumers are unaware of officers’ new numbers and fuse-off call numbers remain unreachable. Minnagam is then the go-to helpline, receiving 3,000 calls every day.Meanwhile, contrary to electricity and law minister R Nirmalkumar’s claims that power supply position was stabilised in Tamil Nadu since Saturday, unscheduled power cuts were reported.As per TNPDCL’s own declaration, power cuts lasting more than an hour were reported in 56 different regions across Chennai and neighbouring districts 24 hours till Sunday morning. On Sunday too, residents of Pulianthope, Palavakkam complained of three-hour long power cuts due to failure as well as fault in the underground cables.Social activist T Sadagopan said it is unacceptable for TNPDCL to say that they were not prepared for the summer-like weather in Sept. There is lack of coordination among various govt agencies which results in people’s suffering due to unscheduled power cuts. Industries have also started fleeing the pinch of power cuts. “This cannot go on,” he said.
