Ex-EB staff to help restore power supply

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO) has roped in the services of over 500 retired field employees from Cuddalore and Villupuram districts to speed up the ongoing restoration work in the cyclone-hit region. The services of about 4,000 local people will also be utilised to gear up power restoration.In an official release here, the TANGEDCO said 500 to 800 field staffers, who superannuated during the past five years from Cuddalore and Villupuram districts, were being engaged.Remuneration has been fixed at Rs 300 for helpers, Rs 350 for wiremen, Rs 500 for linemen and Rs 600 for junior and assistant engineer cadre employees per day.All chief engineers have been instructed to give wide publicity in local media to invite retired field staff to take up power restoration works.Already, about 1,000 TNEB workmen from other districts are on the job, besides 700 local EB employees. “An additional 1,400 workmen from other regions, windmills and power stations have also been diverted.’’