BJD MP Accuses Centre Of Indifference To Underground Cabling In Cyclone-Prone Odisha

New Delhi: At a time when there is a growing clamour for underground cabling to ensure uninterrupted power supply during and after cyclonic storms in Odisha, BJD MP Prashanta Nanda has accused the Centre of being indifferent to the State’s proposal.

In Rajya Sabha on Friday, Nanda said that as against the Odisha government’s proposal of laying 381.51 km of underground cable at a cost of Rs 162.76 crore, the Centre has sanctioned for only 58.71 km. He alleged that funds earmarked for underground cabling were diverted for other works.

He strongly demanded one-time investment for complete underground cabling in coastal districts of Odisha as frequent cyclones had been putting extra financial burden on the state government. He pegged the amount at Rs 10,000 crore.

Apart from Bhubaneswar, the district mentioned by him included Cuttack, Puri, Berhampur, Chhattrapur, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Jajpur, Bhadrak and Balasore.

“The state government has undertaken restoration of power infrastructure on a war-footing from its own resources. However, the scale of damage to power infrastructure is far too expensive to be taken care of by the State alone,” he added.