The Coimbatore District Small Industries Association (Codissia) has decried the under-utilisation of wind power generation capacity at a time the State is facing acute power shortage and industries are forced to idle machinery.
R. Ramachandran, President, Codissia, in a statement said that it was reported that there was a sharp decline in the evacuation of power generated by windmills which are functioning only at about 60-70 per cent of their capacity.
He said under-utilisation of wind power generation capacity acted as a double-whammy because while micro, small units had to keep the machines idle during periods of power cut, they also had to pay salary to the workers for fear of losing them.
He conceded that most of the micro, small units were running only at 50-60 per cent capacity because of two factors — power shortage and lack of orders.
Ramachandran, expressing concern about the continuing power cuts in Coimbatore and nearby areas during peak hours, wanted Tangedco to take steps for more efficient distribution of power.