 "Cyclonic storm batters power infra in Odisha")
A large chunk of coastal Odisha grappled with power shutdown for the second straight day as Phailin, the very severe cyclonic storm battered transmission infrastructure, leaving the substations and feeder lines in shambles.
Though the official casualty figure in the state stands at seven, 23 people are said to have died so far, including 10 in the worst-hit Ganjam district.
The enormity of loss is yet to be assessed, but devastation in power infrastructure could be of the order of Rs 1000 crore, said a highly placed official source. Of the entire projected figure, loss in Ganjam district alone is estimated in the range of Rs 500-600 crore.
Official sources confirmed, in the Ganjam district, on the southern coast, 234,000 houses had been damaged and 180,000 people evacuated ahead of the storm's arrival.
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"The power distribution infrastructure in Ganjam district has been thoroughly damaged. Around 80 per cent of 33/11 kV lines have been ruined. This calls for a massive restoration work through deployment of huge manpower. In some regions of the district, the infrastructure has to be installed from the scratch. It will take at least seven days before the repair and renovation exercise in power is restored fully in this district," said the official.
Given the scale of damage to power infrastructure in Ganjam, even 80 teams (with a total strength of 1200) deployed earlier to the district for restoration work would not suffice, feels he.
"We now need at least 250 teams for Ganjam district alone with a total manpower of 4000. Since the restoration work is to be done on a huge scale, the government has urged the officials of PowerGrid Corporation of India (PGCIL) and NTPC Ltd to expedite the work by mobilising their contractors and sub-contractors. We had requested the Government of India to allow us for using the residual material of Rajeev Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY) for restoration work and got consent for the same," he added.
The energy department is working on a war footing to ensure restoration of electricity for the entire state except Ganjam, by tomorrow evening. Normalcy in power supply in important towns like Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Puri, Khurda, Bhadrak and Balasore will be restored by this evening.
The average daily power drawl by Central Electricity Supply Company of Odisha Ltd (Cesu), a distribution utility operating in the eastern coastal districts has plunged to 110 Mw against the normative 300 Mw. Most industries have gone for a shutdown either for the Puja festivities or due to the cyclone scare, causing a drastic fall in power demand, said an official source.