Balasore, September 28(Odisha.in) After the dog days, now it is dark days for lakhs of residents of coastal Balasore district. Disruption in power supply has added to the woes of deluge-hit people.
With the incessant rain lashing the district, power supply to most parts have been disrupted since last five days. The worst-hit has been Basta, Baliapal blocks, some parts of Sadar block and Chandipur area which are totally black out since September 22.
While in rural pockets people are in knee-deep water, the urban residents are finding it hard to cope with the situation without the power supply.
Sources said, 30 villages in Sadar block, 60 villages in Basta and over 70 villages in Baliapal block are reeling without power supply.
According to Nesco officials, three big and one small transformer have been fully submerged in the floodwaters.
“We are helpless as two major transformers through which we supply power are under floodwaters since last five days. The water is yet to recede from the base at Fuladi which has a 5 MVA transformer and another base at Odangi which has a 1.5 MVA transformer,” said Sushanta Dash, an executive engineer of Balasore.
Added Basta executive engineer Narayan Dash, “Both transformers having 5 MVA capacity each were under water in Basta. Though water have started receding from the bases but we can’t supply power as still most of the
areas are marooned.”
Locals are too hapless as the transformers have been damaged due to water-logging. “Since there is no power, we are without water supply too. But we know that unless the water recedes, nothing can be done,” said Maheswar Sahu, a resident of Basta.
Many other areas in these blocks local electricity officials had to discontinue power supply to ensure safety following the request of the residents.
“People have informed us that at some places water has reached a level that it is touching their meter boxes. So we disconnected power supply,” Shasanka Behera, a lineman said.
The Nesco authorities however trying to provide power supply to some parts of Basta and Fuladi area of Sadar block by Friday by diverting it from the town areas.
“Our men have been working round the clock to restore power supply but we have to ensure their safety as well,” Dash added.
An acute scarcity of drinking water in these areas has occurred because the tube-wells have been submerged and in urban areas there is no power to draw water from submersible pumps.
Odisha.in