Buildings in the state can no longer obtain a permanent electricity connection without submitting building completion certificates to Tangedco.
A recent circular from Tangedco said that submission of the completion certificate will not apply to buildings which were being constructed or were completed on or before February 4, 2019.
The circular said on completion of the construction, the temporary electricity connection provided to the building should be disconnected and a permanent connection should be given on receipt of completion certificates. “Exemption is given for residential buildings upto 12m in height not exceeding three dwelling units and other buildings with an area of 750 sq m,” the circular said.
The circular comes over a year after the Tamil Nadu Combined Development and Building Rules, 2019, came into effect and two years after the high court directed both the electricity board and TN water and drainage board to provide connection only on receipt of building completion certificates. The state government had also issued a government order regarding the same in 2018.
“While the combined building rules had specifically mentioned that only industrial buildings and residential buildings with three dwelling units upto 12m height or 750sqm area would be exempted from submitting the certificate, the Tangedco circular has said the exemption would also be given to other buildings with an area of upto 750sqm. The circular is contrary to the rules,” said K Kathirmathiyon of Coimbatore Consumer Cause.
