MADURAI, INDIA, April 21, 2012 (The Hindu): Power authorities are considering exempting from night time power cuts the procession routes of Deities during the upcoming Chithirai festival of the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple. Thousands congregate along the routes of the processions, which are mostly during the evenings and nights, to have darshan.
Sources from Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDC), Madurai Region, said that exemptions could be granted to the places where devotees congregate in large numbers such as the Chithirai and Masi Streets from power cuts.
The 12-day annual Chithirai Brahmotsavam of Meenakshi Temple would begin with the traditional flag hoisting on April 23rd. The car festival would be held on May 3rd with the Chithirai festival concluding the next day.
While TANGEDCO (the Tamil Nadu electric co.) received several requests for exempting the entire district from power cuts, officials said that it was not feasible given the present power situation. However, in May the wind season is expected to set in and the wind mills are expected to contribute at least 2,500 MW to the State. Once this set its, residents could expect the night time power cuts to be halted with further relief even during the day time likely.
Further several new power plants were expected to be commissioned in the next two to three months. The power crisis in the State, officials said, would ease considerably.