The State Government is now trying to document the lessons learnt from its handling of the cyclone Phailin last year with a view to planning a more effective response mechanism against any such disaster in future.
A two-day state-level workshop on post-cyclone power restoration and challenges ahead was inaugurated by Chief Secretary Jugal Kishore Mohapatra here on Tuesday.Mohapatra said there is a need felt to analyse what we did and what we could not do after the cyclone. “We should review and scrutinise the extent of our preparedness and ability to respond from 1999 super cyclone to 2013 Phailin, and, accordingly, prepare future plans for disaster management in power sector.”
Energy Secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena said the system has to be developed to avert any future disasters of greater dimension. “We have to prepare an emergency procurement plan, standard operation procedure (SOP) and create more skilled manpower for more quick and effective response in future,” Jena told mediapersons after the inaugural session.
He said there would not be power shortage in the State during this summer. Better water management during the last monsoon has helped us to reserve sufficient water in reservoirs to generate hydro power, he said, informing that the State’s daily requirement now varies from 3,200 MW to 3,800 MW, against which the department is now able to provide 4,200 MW. If demand rises, more power will be procured from thermal sector, he said.
OPTCl and GRIDCO CMD Hemant Sharma urged experts and engineers to find out if there was any weakness in the design and quality of transmission and distribution infrastructure and suggest accordingly. Central Power Research Institute DG Murugesan also graced the occasion. The workshop being organised jointly by OPTCl, GRIDCO and distribution companies will have six sessions.Among others, Revenue and Disaster Management Secretary Dr Taradatt, Finance Secretary UN Behera, OSDMA’s Dr Kamal lochan Mishra, former member of Central Electricity Authority V Ramkrishna, National Institute of Disaster Management’s Prof Ananda Kumar and IMD Director SC Sahu participated in the workshop.
