Fifty days after Cyclone Phailin hit Odisha coast leaving a trail of destruction, power supply has not been restored in nearly 500 villages in worst-hit Ganjam district. The Southern Electricity Supply Company (Southco) has already skipped two deadlines -- one fixed by the district administration and the other by the state government.
While Ganjam district administration had set November 26 as the deadline for complete restoration of power supply, the Energy Department had given one more week for the same.
The latest progress report said power supply has not been restored in about 500 villages. Considering an average population of 800 in each village, the number of those affected could come to about 40,000, a senior district officer told Express.
However, a daily progress report submitted to the Office of the Special Relief Commissioner said that power supply has not been restored to about 14,000 consumers.
The district administration is said to have warned managing director of the distribution company Prasant Choudhury that it would be forced to take punitive measures against him if the restoration was not completed within December first week. Sources in the district administration said Choudhury has remained incommunicado for the last few days. While it is being rumoured that he has tendered his resignation, the central service office of the Reliance Infrastructure Limited – the group company of Southco, NESCO and Wesco – said it had no information on that front. Southco sources claimed that power supply has not been restored to seven gram panchayats and tail-end villages due to lack of logistic support.
The utility admitted that 150 out of the 900 rural water supply points were yet to be energised. However, all critical infrastructure and establishments, including hospitals, have been provided with electricity.
With rabi cultivation in full swing, farmers have requested the district administration to restore supply to lift irrigation points and deep borewells.