Rural areas of cyclone-hit Ganjam still without power

Darkness still grips several rural areas of cyclone-ravaged Ganjam district in Odisha even though exactly a month has passed since Phailin hit the district.

While restoration work is yet to be completed in rural areas, almost all the urban areas have got back power supply, power distribution company sources said.

Of the 475 gram panchayats, power supply was partially restored in 269 panchayat headquarters so far, but fully restored in all block and 18 urban headquarters, the sources claimed.

"Restoration work was hampered due to continuous rains and subsequently flood in the district, the sources said. These are some of the reasons for delay in the restoration work in the district," Southco Managing Director P K Choudhury said.

The distribution company claimed that of the 5.43 consumers in the district, power supply was restored to around 3.57 lakh consumers so far.

State's energy secretary P K Jena reviewed the progress of the power restoration operation with Southco officials here yesterday.

The power distribution network suffered huge damage due to the cyclone that hit the district on October 12.

"Restoration work is going on in war-footing by mobilising around 3,000 skilled workers from different companies," said another Southco officer.

Drinking water supply in the rural areas was also hit due to non-availability of power supply.

"Of the 971 rural water supply schemes, we have resumed 170 so far. The other projects could not run due to lack of power," executive engineer, rural water supply and sanitation (RWSS) S R Panda said.

However, drinking water supply in rural areas was being ensured by using 314 generators and pressing into service 320 water tankers, he said.