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The Hindu
26-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Kathirimalai, remote hamlet in Erode, to receive power supply soon as tender process completed
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.
New Indian Express
24-05-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Kathirimalai tribal village to get electricity connection soon
ERODE: The long wait for electricity to a tribal village in Erode district is likely to be over quite soon as the TANGEDCO has accelerated work in this regard. The tender process is almost over and the work to erect poles and draw power lines for about 8 kilometres to the Kathirimalai village is expected to start within a month. The village in the foothill of Kathirimalai has about 100 houses belonging to the Solaga community. The residents have been yearning for electricity connection for decades but it eluded them so far. Only solar panels light up the households now. A senior official from TANGEDCO (Gobichettipalayam SE Division) said, "We have recently completed the tender process for the project to provide electricity to Kathirimalai village. The tender is currently at the awarding stage. This will take a week. Then the work will commence in a month." Speaking to TNIE, Anthiyur MLA AG Venkatachalam said, "This project will be executed at a cost of `3.25 crore. An electric line will be drawn from the foothills of Kathirimalai to Kathirimalai village for approximately 8 km. The work will start in a month. The work will be completed within three months of its commencement. We, including the district collector and other officials, are determined that the people of that village should get electricity as soon as possible."
