Storm-prone Odisha revives plan to build disaster resilient power infra

Move follows estimated damage of Rs 8,000 crore caused by Fani; earlier project costing Rs 1,820 cr could not be taken forward after both ADB and state energy dept lost interest

Wracked by a summer storm of immense ferocity, the Odisha government has revived the plan to develop disaster-resilient power infrastructure.

Fani, a very severe cyclonic storm with wind speeds gusting to 200 km per hour, barrelled in the state’s eastern coast near Puri on May 3. The state’s vulnerable power infrastructure was badly damaged by the cyclone, posing a great challenge to the state administration to rebuild the ravaged poles.

Known for its susceptibility to recurring cyclones, the Odisha government had, back in 2013, planned to install a disaster-immune power transmission network. The project was planned for areas in and