Kathirimalai, remote hamlet in Erode, to receive power supply soon as tender process completed

The Hindu

26-05-2025

A long-awaited project to bring electricity to Kathirimalai, a remote hamlet in Erode district, is set to begin soon, as the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (TNPDCL) — formerly known as the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO) — is in the process of issuing the work order to the contractor. Work is expected to commence within a month and be completed in three months.
The remote hamlet can be reached only after a 9-kilometre trek across rough terrain from Kathiripatti, located at the foothills in Kolathur block of Salem district. About 82 km from Erode, Kathirimalai is home to 76 families comprising 267 individuals from the Solaga tribal community. The hamlet is situated at an elevation of 1,052 metres in the Chennampatti forest range within the Erode Forest Division, under the jurisdiction of Bargur Panchayat Union in Anthiyur taluk.
In 2018, the village briefly received solar-powered lighting, with each household being provided two bulbs. However, most of the batteries have since become non-functional, leaving the village in darkness after sunset. The lack of electricity and motorable roads has posed serious challenges for residents, especially students and during medical emergencies.
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, during his visit to Erode on December 20, 2024, announced the electrification of the hamlet at an estimated cost of ₹2.50 crore, which was later revised to ₹3.25 crore. Following this, tenders were floated, and a contractor was recently finalised.
A senior engineer at the Gobichettipalayam Electricity Distribution Circle told The Hindu that 300 electric poles would be erected from Kathiripatti at the foothills to the hamlet, covering a distance of 8.34 km. Since there is no nearby sub-station within the circle, power will be drawn from the Sathya Nagar sub-station in Kolathur. The official added that household connections will be provided based on applications submitted by residents. 'The contractor is expected to begin work within a month and complete it in three months,' the official said.
Transporting the poles and other equipment to the site will be a major challenge due to the absence of a motorable road. A single-layer water-bound macadam road, laid in 2022 at a cost of ₹1.47 crore through forest clearance, has suffered extensive damage due to rainfall and other environmental factors, further complicating access to the hamlet.