Tardy Power Restoration In Nor’wester-Hit Bhubaneswar Annoys Odisha Chief Secretary

Bhubaneswar: Expressing displeasure over tardy power restoration in Bhubaneswar after damage to infrastructure caused by nor’wester, Odisha Chief Secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena asked Tata Power to pull up, accelerate the work and ensure immediate action.

As power supply got snapped in the state capital for several hours after nor-wester wreaked havoc on Thursday the Chief Secretary in a tweet expressed his annoyance.

Asking Tata Power to restore the damaged electric infrastructure fast, Jena said immediate action should be ensured as the public do not appreciate slow action. He tagged the Odisha Energy Department, TP Central Odisha Distribution Ltd and I&PR department in his Twitter post.

“Restoration in Bhubaneswar is extremely slow. Pl pull up and restore fast. If response to kalabaisakhi can be slow, just imagine what would happen in eventual cyclone situations? Public don’t appreciate such slow action. Request immediate action,” the Chief Secretary tweeted.

It may be noted here that a large number of trees were uprooted due to the nor’wester. Electric wires were also snapped as uprooted trees fell on them at several places, leading to disruption in power supply.

While extensive damage was caused to the power infrastructue, vehicular movement was also hit in many parts of the city following the nor-wester.

No senior official of the TPCODL was immediately available for comment on the issue.

President of electricity consumers’ association Ramesh Satpathy claimed that power supply was yet to be restored in some areas of the state capital till this morning.

Holding the state government responsible for the ‘fragile’ power infrastructure, he said the private electricity distribution company can be penalised for the delay in restoration in supply. The state government should have categorically directed the distribution company to undertake restoration work on a war footing and ensure quick resumption of electricity supply.