Ganjam district administration did not agree to the proposal of the private power distribution company, Southco that it would finish power restoration work to all areas and establishments in this Phailin hit district by Dec 7. Ganjam Collector Krishan Kumar on Tuesday evening ordered the Southco authorities to complete power restoration work to all key establishments of public service as well as panchayats by Nov 26.
It may be noted that a cold war is continuing between the Ganjam district administration and the Southco for the past one week. It has continued through written notices of the administration and replies from the Southco, Managing Director (MD).
Replying to the recent notice by the district administration, the Southco had furnished an 18-page reply. Through this reply it had claimed that electricity supply could be restored to all areas of Ganjam district by Dec 7. But the district administration did not agree to it as lack of power supply had drastically affected life of Phailin and flood affected families.
So, during a meeting called up at Chatrapur, which was attended by officials of power sector as well as administration, the Collector ordered the Southco to take up restoration work on a war-footing and complete power restoration to all panchayats of the district by Nov 26 evening.
Apart from it, the power distribution company was also ordered to restore power supply to all Primary Health Centres (PHC) and Community Health Centres (CHC), drinking water supply systems of rural and urban areas, ATM counters and BSNL mobile communication towers by Nov 26. It may be noted that on Nov 12, after a meeting with Southco authorities, the State Energy Secretary had declared that power supply to all parts of Ganjam district would be restored by Nov 15, but the Southco had failed to achieve the target.
The Ganjam Collector had therefore issued notices to the Southco MD reiterating that the Odisha Essential Services (Maintenance) Act, 1988 was applicable against the Southco and restoration of electrical infrastructure in regard to dereliction of duty and laxity in this work.
