Power cuts lasting six to 10 hours and, at times, extending for days continue to disrupt normal life in three panchayats in the Thalavadi Hills, affecting over 16,000 residents and prompting renewed demands for a permanent solution.

More than 30 habitations are spread across Hasanur panchayat in Thalavadi panchayat union and Germalam and Thingalur panchayats in Sathyamangalam panchayat union. The habitations receive power supply from the Rajan Nagar sub-station near Bannari in the plains through transmission lines passing through forest areas under the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR).

The situation worsens during the southwest monsoon season, particularly in June and July, when strong winds and falling tree branches frequently damage power lines. Since most faults occur during the evening or at night, Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (TNPDCL) personnel are often unable to locate snapped lines until daylight, delaying restoration work. “Residents were without power for several days and, in some cases, for nearly a week in July 2024,” said R. Arulsamy, a resident of Mavallam. He added that villages in Germalam and Thingalur panchayats along the Karnataka border were among the worst affected.

The outages affect drinking water supply, farming activities, education, and communication services. Villagers said charging mobile phones, operating pumps for drinking water supply and irrigation, studying at night, and using electrical appliances become difficult during prolonged disruptions. Students said the frequent outages disrupted their studies as they were unable to prepare for examinations after dark. Dependence on kerosene lamps and other alternative sources of lighting was both inconvenient and inadequate during prolonged power cuts, they added.

People in the hill region said even minor spells of wind had recently resulted in outages lasting several hours. They also expressed concern over venturing outdoors at night during power cuts because of the movement of wild animals and uncertainty over when supply would be restored. Villagers alleged that many of the poles and transmission lines were installed decades ago and that inadequate maintenance had made them vulnerable to damage. They sought the establishment of sub-stations at Hasanur, Thalamalai, Kadambur, and Germalam to improve the reliability of power supply.

Need for sub-stations

A proposal to establish a sub-station at Old Hasanur had earlier stalled after objections were raised to the use of temple land for the project. S. Mohan Kumar, an activist, called for the establishment of additional sub-stations and the erection of power poles along the road between Thingalur and Germalam.

Residents also sought the replacement of ageing lines with insulated cables and the erection of poles along roadsides, noting that underground cabling was not feasible in forest areas. Villagers said the establishment of sub-stations at Hasanur, Thalamalai, and Germalam was essential to ensure reliable power supply to the hill habitations.

A senior engineer in the TNPDCL’s Gobichettipalayam Electricity Distribution Circle told The Hindu that efforts were under way to identify alternative land for a proposed sub-station at Hasanur, while proposals for additional sub-stations in other locations were under consideration.