Farmers in Pongalur-Avinashipalayam belt have complained of disruption to farming activities caused by shortcomings in three-phase power supply to pump sets.
According to the farmers, the TNPDCL (Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited) had, over the last week, been providing three-phase power supply only after midnight.
In non-delta districts, the TNPDCL provides three-phase power supply for six hours in the day-time and for the same duration after the peak hours, beyond 10 p.m.
At times the three-phase power supply starts as late as 1 a.m., but is wound up well before the six-hour duration, N. Ramesh, Tiruppur district unit secretary of Tamizhaga Vivasayigal Padhukappu Sangam said.
A majority of farmers who have installed pumps without auto-starters are the worst affected, as they cannot remain awake all through night, he pointed out.
Since water is drawn from borewells as deep as 1,000 feet, the motors do not function with two-phase power. The usual practice of the farmers is to draw water during the night hours from the borewells and fill them in wells or sumps, and utilise the three-phase schedule in the morning hours to water their coconut and vegetable crops, including onion and tomato.
Without water availability, the three-phase supply during the morning hours does not serve the purpose, Mr. Ramesh explained.
Acknowledging the disruption in three-phase supply over the last week due to power shortage, a senior TNPDCL official said the issue will be addressed as the power generation has improved.
On Monday, for instance, the power generation was well above the extent of utilisation. Such shortages do arise due to changes in climatic conditions and variations in the power load consumed by industries.
“We are trying our best to match power generation and consumption,” the official explained.
Published – September 21, 2026 08:43 pm IST
