Coimbatore MSMEs Face Nearly ₹30 Crore Loss in Three Days Due to Unannounced Power Cuts
Unannounced power cuts in Coimbatore have disrupted MSME production, with industrial sources estimating nearly ₹30 crore in cumulative losses over three days due to production delays, raw material wastage and machinery damage.
Dharshini
Unannounced power cuts in Coimbatore have severely disrupted production at small and micro industrial units, with industry sources estimating cumulative losses of nearly ₹30 crore over the past three days.
Industrial representatives said power interruptions, which had reportedly occurred once or twice a day over the previous month, have increased to around seven to 10 interruptions a day in some areas. The sudden outages are affecting production processes and causing wastage of raw materials, as well as damage to machinery, tools and spare parts.
According to J. James, president of the Tamil Nadu Association of Cottage and Micro Enterprises (TACT), around 50,000 small and micro industrial units in Coimbatore operate on a job-order basis. Industry representatives estimate a minimum operating loss of about ₹2,000 per machine per day, while the overall loss for Coimbatore's MSME sector has been estimated at around ₹10 crore per day during the disruptions.
Industrialists said sudden power interruptions can bring machines to an immediate halt, potentially damaging tools and affecting materials being processed. Some units have also reported repeated power cuts lasting one to two hours.
However, a senior TNPDCL official denied that the disruptions were caused by a power shortage. The official said some interruptions could be due to excessive loading on local transformers, which can put additional stress on control fuses and cause them to trip.
Industry associations have urged the authorities to ensure a stable power supply and, where interruptions are unavoidable, provide advance information so industries can take precautions to protect machinery, tools and raw materials.
