As restoration of power supply in the cyclone-affected districts of Odisha has become a major challenge, private utility companies like Reliance, Tata Power and l&T and power distribution companies of Delhi and Mumbai have joined hands with the State Government and public sector utilities like the NTPC, REC, NHPC and PGCIl in mobilising men and materials for the restoration works.
Half of the State, about 14 coastal districts, plunged into darkness when the Phailin hit it on October 12. The damages to the power sector have been estimated at a staggering Rs 1,048.14 crore. While Energy Secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena is coordinating the procurement of materials, engagement of skilled workers and restoration of power lines in Bhubaneswar, the Government has positioned another senior IAS officer Hemanta Sharma, CMD of GRIDCO and OPTCl at Brahmapur to expedite the restoration work in Ganjam, the worst-affected district.
“We would be able to restore power supply in all parts of the State by October 30, 2013,” Energy Minister Arun Kumar Sahu has promised. To complete the works by the deadline, the Government is drafting skilled and semiskilled manpower from West Bengal, Jharkhand and Bihar. In Ganjam district, 35 of the 45 substations have been badly hit. While 6,000 km of power line has been affected, there is a need for replacement of 2,000 km of lines. Similarly, 4 lakh electric poles out of a total 6 lakh need replacement.
The Southco, the Reliance Infra-owned distribution company which is supplying power in the southern parts of the State including Ganjam district, has employed over 2,000 personnel in the restoration job. The Southco has drafted the services of its sister concern Wesco and distribution companies of Mumbai and Delhi to help it.
Meanwhile, the Cesu, the distribution company that supplies power in nine districts including coastal districts of undivided Cuttack and Puri in the central region, has restored power supply to its 15 lakh out of the 16.94 lakh consumers, as per an official release.
Of the total 20 subdivisions in the Cesu area, power has been restored in 13. The company, which has pegged its loss at Rs 270 crore, has completed repairs and restoration of 144 out of 159 affected power transformers, 1,451 km out of 1,551 km 33-KV line, 7,564 km out of 8974 km 11-KV line, 11,963 km out of 13,890 km lT line and 17,261 distribution transformers out of total 22,828.
“Despite the fact that our infrastructures in the Brahmagiri area of Puri district has been badly affected in the cyclone, we are confident that power will be there and in all parts of our area much before the deadline of October 30,” said Cesu CEO Sudarsan Nayak.