Bhubaneswar: Any unannounced power cut, especially during summer, will be treated as a punishable offence, and those responsible will face strict action, including imprisonment, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said Thursday.
He made the statement while inaugurating Rs 600 crore worth of three grid substations and eight transmission lines in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. Addressing a public meeting at Balianta, Majhi said the new power facilities will benefit about 22 lakh consumers in the twin cities.
The CM noted that residents had frequently complained in the past about unscheduled outages. After the BJP government assumed office, the issue was taken seriously, and officials were directed last year to ensure that no unannounced cuts occur.
The state largely avoided such outages last year, he added. “Any unannounced power cut, especially in summer, without prior notice, will be treated as a punishable offence. Officials or employees found responsible will face strict action, including imprisonment, and no leniency will be shown in such cases,” he said.
Majhi inaugurated the new grid substations at Balianta, Satyanagar, and SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, in the presence of Deputy CM KV Singh Deo, who is also in charge of the Energy department, and Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi.
The CM said Rs 300 crore has been sanctioned for the restoration of the Prachi river, while Rs 75 crore has been approved for the second phase of the Dhanua river restoration in the Bhubaneswar-Jayadev area.
Additionally, Rs 170 crore has been approved for the restoration of the Daya River and Rs 400 crore for the restoration and improvement of the Daya West Canal. He announced that all the work will start soon.