Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has initiated plans to shift the state’s electricity distribution network from overhead lines to underground cabling as part of a long-term strategy to minimise damage to power infrastructure during natural disasters.
Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said the Revenue and Disaster Management Department has prepared a special modality for the project and directed the Energy Department to immediately prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR). The report will be submitted to the Centre to seek financial and technical assistance for implementing the ambitious initiative.
The move comes in response to the recurring damage caused to the state’s power infrastructure during cyclones, floods and other extreme weather events.
According to the government, the Energy Department suffers some of the highest losses during such disasters as electricity poles collapse and overhead wires snap, leading to prolonged power outages across affected areas. The Revenue Department subsequently assesses the extent of the damage for relief and restoration.
The proposed underground cabling project is aimed at making Odisha’s power distribution system more resilient and ensuring faster restoration of electricity services during and after disasters.
As electricity distribution in Odisha is managed by private utilities, the government has also held discussions with TATA Power on the proposed transition. Pujari said the state is giving priority to the project to ensure that public investment in the infrastructure ultimately benefits consumers and strengthens the overall power distribution system.
The minister noted that the Revenue Department has previously provided around Rs 1,200 crore to the Energy Department to compensate for disaster-related damage. In addition, substantial financial assistance has been extended to the Panchayati Raj Department, the Works Department and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for restoration and infrastructure improvement after disasters.
He added that the state has also been receiving financial support from the World Bank in the form of loans and grants for post-disaster reconstruction and infrastructure strengthening initiatives.
