BHUBANESWAR: Even as the very severe cyclone ‘Titli’ and subsequent floods caused extensive damage to electricity infrastructure, Energy Department and the utilities have restored power in the affected districts of Rayagada, Ganjam and Kandhamal except Gajapati in a record time.Official sources said learning from the last calamities like Phailin and Hud Hud, the Department had planned well before the landfall of Titli. Required materials along with skilled workforce were mobilised in the vulnerable districts in advance. At the headquarters, a 24X7 control room was set up for monitoring and guiding the restoration team.
Four major transmission lines, 132 kv Akhisingh-Mohana, Digapahandi-Mohana and 220 kv Atri-Narendrapur, Therubali-Narendrapur, which are the connecting life lines of power supply to the affected districts were restored. Power supply to MKCG Hospital, Berhampur was restored within 24 hours and the second day, power supply to Gajapati district headquarters hospital and PHD water supply was restored.
Around 2825 km distribution lines have been restored, 10,500 poles were erected and 1,270 distribution transformers have been replaced benefitting 8.8 lakh consumers of the four districts getting back power supply. Besides, around 60 km of complete new LT lines were laid in the most affected five gram panchayats of Rayagada district within a short span of time. Electricity was restored in Purushottampur and Aska towns after the flood water receded.
Energy Minister Sushant Singh and Secretary Hemant Sharma had camped in the affected districts to review and monitor the situation. Besides departmental technicians and engineers, around 2000 workmen were engaged in the affected districts. Additional teams and workforce have been mobilised in Gajapati district for expeditious restoration considering the severity of the damage.Official sources maintained that quantum of work, carried out during the restoration process would have taken six months time in the normal course.