By the end of October; then by November 7; then by November 15; and now “hopefully” by November 25. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and the top State Government officials have been setting and revising deadlines for restoration of electricity supply in the Phailin-affected areas of the State, particularly Ganjam district ever since the cyclone hit the State on October 12.
However, many areas of Ganjam district are still without power.
Yet again, the “progress” made in restoration and reconstruction process in the 18 districts affected by the cyclone and floods was reviewed at a meeting chaired by Chief Secretary JK Mohapatra in the State Secretariat here on Wednesday.
Giving out the details of the loss to the power sector and progress of restoration process, Energy Secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena “expected” that if the current rate of restoration on a daily basis is taken into consideration, restoration of electricity supply in the entire Ganjam district would be completed by November 25.
Out of the total 475 gram panchayats in Ganjam district affected by the Phailin, electricity has so far been restored in 405. As many as about 65,000 consumers are still deprived of electricity.
The Government has a plea: these villages are located in difficult areas where it takes time to restore the supply chain and several villagers are opposing installation of electricity poles in cultivable lands.
Urban water supply in 18 NACs and in one municipality which needs power has, however, “almost” been restored except three points. In rural areas, out of 918 points, 538 ones have been charged so far, officials said.
It was pointed out that about one lakh new electric poles have been replaced by old and damaged ones and 3,500 transformers have also been replaced. At several places, the restoration process has brought in complete overhauling of the electricity supply. The damage to the power sector in Ganjam district has been estimated at about Rs867 crore.
As many as 5,59,386 electricity consumers were affected by the cyclone in Ganjam district and till now 4,80,499 of them have been covered under resumption of electricity supply. Still, there are 78,887 consumers going without power.
And in all, around 79,555 consumers of five districts, Gajapati, Boudh, Kandhamal, Rayagada and Ganjam, are yet to get electricity supply, sources added.