The Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation’s sections which had recorded failure-free operation of distribution transformers under their jurisdictions were presented with awards here on Friday.
As many as 32 sections in Tangedco’s Tiruchi region were given the annual awards for Best Section in maintenance of transformers, which is crucial in ensuring quality and uninterrupted power supply.
One of the salient features this year was that several rural sections such as Rural Manapparai, South Thathaiyengarpet, Venkatachalapuram, Pulivalam, North Andimadam, Vangal, Gandhigram, and Rural South Pallappati had bagged the awards for achieving the ‘zero-failure’ targets.
The Mainguard Gate section in Tiruchi had got the award for the eighth time and the Thillai Nagar section for the seventh time.
Distributing the awards, R.Kumaresan, Chief Engineer, Distribution, Tangedco, Tiruchi Region, said distribution staff played a key albeit difficult job. Failure of transformers not only involved expenditure and disruption of supply but also involved extensive work for the field staff. Hence it was essential that the field staff ensure the proper maintenance of the transformers by ensuring correct oil level, preventing oil leaking, and loose contacts, providing proper earthing and averting tree contracts with high and low tension cables.
Over the past five years, transformer failures have come down to 6.25 per cent from 13 per cent in the Tiruchi region which has over 40,000 transformers, he said.
N.Sivanandam, General Manager, Human Resources Development, Chennai, said ensuring proper maintenance of transformers would relieve much pressure on Tangedco as it ensures quality and uninterrupted power supply. He also urged the field staff to prevent overload.
Mary Magdalin Princy, Senior Manager, HRD, Technical Training and Development Centre, Tiruchi, said the centre was providing continuous training and organising on-site demonstration for field staff in proper maintenance of transformers. In 2006, only four sections have bagged the award and the number had gone up to 11 in 2001. Last year, the awards were given to 17 sections; she said and added that it was heartening to note that even rural sections were now getting the awards.
E.Sekkizhar, P.Sivasamy and M.Valarmathy, Superintending Engineers, Tangedco, Tiruchi Metro, Karur and Perambalur respectively also spoke.
