PANAJI
The Electricity Department suffered a loss of around Rs 22 crore due to cyclonic storm Tauktae which battered the state on Sunday.
Chief Electrical Engineer Raghuvir Keni informed that the department had assessed the extensive damages suffered by the electrical infrastructure across the state.
“The department has suffered a loss of around Rs 22 crore. It amounts to almost 45 km length of snapped conductors, poles and HT and LT lines,” Kenis stated.
The department is currently staring at major repair works with about 1,500 poles being bent out of shape during the cyclone. Of these, 700 are completely broken and will have to be replaced.
“Presently, we have done all the restoration works to ensure that power is available to all consumers. By today, 99 per cent of the works will be completed. Some things will be taken up late at night or early in the morning tomorrow. Over the next 15 days, we will focus on further improvement and strengthening of this infrastructure. Broken poles will be replaced,” Keni informed.
Interestingly, he pointed out that all areas were equally affected with the exception of areas which had underground cabling such as Margao, Nuvem, Verna, Loutolim, Panaji, some parts of Porvorim, Cuncolim and Curchorem. Overhead cables were damaged by fallen branches and trees during the cyclone.
When asked if the Electricity Department plans to undertake underground cabling works to avoid damages in future during such natural calamities, Keni said, “Mapusa underground cabling has been approved and tendered. We will soon receive the government approval for the award of the work and it will commence. Our focus is on conversion of 11kV and 33 kV feeders to underground cabling because any issues with these affects a large area. This requires huge funds. We have to do it in phases.”
CEE Keni said that one tower at Sancoale collapsed and one of the two towers linked with Corlim feeder at Banastarim has collapsed. However, the Electricity Department succeeded in feeding the power to these lines through other sources and interconnections.
As of Wednesday, the department still has to complete works in a few areas in Mapusa as well as some areas in the coastal belt of Salcete, Pernem and Bardez.
