People of Odisha Are Still In Darkness As Electricity Has Not Been Restored In Many Areas

Guwahati: Major sections of the population in the cyclone-ravaged Odisha continue to reel under the intense heat wave with no electricity even after eight days after Cyclone Fani as lakhs of electricity poles uprooted across the state.

The Odisha government has been informed by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) over complaints that relief materials have not reached the people in the battered areas of Puri and Khurdha.

The severe cyclonic storm ‘Fani’ battered the coastal districts on May 3 but half of about 4.5 electricity consumers in Bhubaneshwar have got power supply back at a time when the state is sizzled under intense heat wave. The affected people staged protest demanding a quick restoration of electricity. “A large number of people staged a road blockade near Garage Chhak in the state capital demanding a quick restoration of power supply which was severely hit due to Cyclone Fani uprooting about 1.56 lakh electric poles in the city alone,” said police.

The protestors also tried to attack an office of the Central Electricity Supply Utility forcing the employees to lock themselves inside.

An officer of CESU, NK Sahu said that they were scared as angry demonstrators threatened and tried to attack us and that they have sought protection from the police. An official further said that similar incidents took place in some other places for which police personnel have been deployed at the control room of the CESU and some of its major offices as a precautionary measure.

PK Sinha, Cabinet Secretary of Odisha said that around 50 percent of the consumers in Bhubaneshwar are now getting electricity after having video conferencing with Chief Secretary A P Padhi. Padhi said that they have prepared a roadmap for electrification and restoration work is picking up as additional manpower from other states have been brought for fast progress of work. He also said that there has been a substantial improvement in telecom sector too.

Meanwhile, Information and Public Relations Secretary Sanjay Singh said that 100 percent restoration of power supply in Bhubaneswar is expected to be achieved by Sunday and on the same day, around 90 percent of the power consumers in the state capital will be able to get electricity as informed by Energy Secretary Hemant Sharma.

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