Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, May 25: Adding to the torment of soaring temperatures, the Central Electricity Supply Utility (CESU), Orissa has announced load-shedding for one hour every day in Khurda and Puri districts, including the capital city.
“There will be load-shedding for at least one hour a day,” said superintendent engineer of CESU Santosh Kumar Swain. “The load-shedding will be done in two phases of 30 minutes each in Khurda and Puri districts including Bhubaneswar,” Swain added.
Orissa Power Transmission Corporation Ltd (OPTCL) had stated Sunday that the government will go for phase-wise load shedding for one hour in Khurda and Puri districts including Bhubaneswar and Nimapara.
“Two extra high-tension (EHT) towers between Narendrapur and Khurda and between Narendrapur and Mendhasala have been damaged in Nachuni near Balugaon Saturday. As a result, power supply from Narendrapur to Khurda and Mendhasala has been disrupted. It would take at least five days to restore these two EHT towers,” OPTCL had clarified.
Swain said as a result, load-shedding is inevitable and added that there would be a power supply deficit of about 50-60 MW due to the damage of the EHTs. As Bhubaneswar requires 250-315 MW daily, it would not be possible to supply the required power as all transformers cannot take the load. As a result, phase-wise load-shedding is indispensable, OPTCL officials said.
Officials said the power cut for half an hour each will be made between 11 am and 4.30 pm in the first phase and from 7 pm to 12 am in the night. CESU has also requested residents to cooperate with the administration in this regard.
However, the decision has drawn flak from various quarters as the state government had earlier assured the public that there would be no load-shedding during the summer.
