Energy dept to issue instructions for emergency expenses by June-end

The move aimed at removing procedural delays during natural disasters

The state energy department is mulling to come up with standard operating procedures for procuring equipment and hiring manpower during emergency situations to avoid procedural delays in restoring power networks in the aftermath of natural disasters.

The instructions will empower energy department officials to buy power transmission equipment and engage skilled labourers beyond approved rates of government during emergency.

“We had to face certain difficulties in procuring equipment for power transmission and skilled manpower while restoring networks in Phailin-affected areas last year. It was nearly impossible to arrange these things in accordance with current practices as we had to restore the connections within a very limited time. So to avoid these hurdles in future, we will issue standard operating procedures for procurement of equipment and labourers in emergency situations by June-end this year,” said P K Jena, state energy secretary while speaking at a  workshop on post-cyclone power restoration work with the theme of “Lessons Learned and Challenges Ahead”.

The energy department along with Southern Odisha Electricity Supply Company (Southco) restored the power connection in Phailin-hit areas within two months in December 2013, after the deadly cyclone battered the south-east part of the state destroying power infrastructure valued at over Rs 1,000 crore. Nearly 5,500 skilled engineers,technicians and workmen were pressed into service by both the government and the Reliance Infrastructure-managed power distribution company (discom) to restore the network.

During the restoration work, the government had to pay additional salary, food bill and had to bear accommodation cost of skilled labourers, which are normally not covered in the wages prescribed for skilled workers in the state. To maintain transparency, it also had to buy towers from Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) at approved rates.

“We want to prepare a guideline where officials need not waste their time in getting approvals from the government and rather focus on restoration work in future in order to restore power connections within the shortest period after natural disasters,” added Jena. These instructions will be designed to maintain transparency and avoid cases of irregularities, he said.

The state vigilance department is still probing over 50 cases related to irregularities occurred in procuring restoration materials in the aftermath of 1999 super cyclone.