Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik writes to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh requesting to relax NDRF norms as to provide for actual cost of restoration of the entire power infrastructure damaged by the extremely severe Cyclonic Storm Fani.
“The transmission and distribution is an integrated network consisting of Extra High Tension, High Tension & Low Tension. According to the present NDRF norms for repair of damaged power sector, assistance is given for damaged conductors, poles and transformers upto the level of 11 KV only. Even the scale of assistance for the admissible items is highly inadequate. Besides the large scale darnage to 11 KV lines, distribution transformers and LT netvvork admissible for repair and restoration under NDRF norms, extensive damage has also been caused to 220 KV / 132 KV towers and transmission lines; Grid Sub-stations and power transformers; 33 KV poles, lines and primary S.-stations. As per preliminary report, the extent of damage due to “FANI” is estimated to be about Rs.1160 crores. The transrnission and distribution companies are not in a position to finance these restoration works. As electricity is a basic necessity, the State Government has undertaken restoration of power infrastructure on a war footing from its own resources. However, the scale of damage to the power infrastructure is far too extensive to be taken care of by the State Government alone. In the above context, it is requested that the NDRF norrns may be relaxed to provide for actual cost of restoration of the entire power infrastructure damaged by the Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm “FANI,” said CM Patnaik.
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