Come summer and power cuts begin to bother people. The problem is more acute in the rural areas where people have to rely on hand fans to keep themselves cool and children are forced to study under the light of kerosene lamps. However, power cuts may soon become a thing of past with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik recently launching seven power projects in different districts with an investment of Rs 450 crore to strengthen the power infrastructure.
The projects include six high power grid substations in Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Keonjhar, Khurda and Sambalpur districts and a 220-KV transmission line from Balangir to Kesinga. The chief Minister said that the government had launched the Odisha Distribution System Strengthening Project with an estimated budget of Rs 3,800 crore to provide quality power to the consumers. As many as 430 sub-stations of 33/11 KV capacity have become functional so far.
Patnaik also made a reference to the problem of low voltage and assured that the problem will be sorted out with an investment of Rs 1,800 crore in the fourth phase of the programme to improve power infrastructure. The strengthening of the power infrastructure will benefit not only households but also industries and farming operations.
But even as the government steps up its efforts to improve the power position of the state, it is the responsibility of the people benefiting from power projects not to waste electricity. Power should be utilized properly and cases of power thefts should be reported to the authorities.
Experts point out that the quantum of power lost in transmission and distribution and due to thefts could light up thousands of rural homes which are yet to get a power connection. We now have special power police stations in the state where cases of theft and other kinds of electricity-related crimes can be reported. People should come forward to report such cases as their identity would be kept secret.
Similarly, in some rural areas, high power transmission lines are deliberately damaged by local villages who let live wires lie on the ground to kill passing elephant herds that destroy their crops. These are revenge killings of the worst kind. In the past, many such incidents have been reported from different parts of the state, but the authorities are yet to take action against people engaging in such crimes. Instead, forest and energy department officials keep blaming each other of neglect in such cases.
Such problems need to be addressed on a priority basis. There is also an urgent need to create awareness among people about the need to stop misuse and wastage of electricity. The efforts of the government to provide us adequate and quality power will produce desired results only when we, the consumers, start behaving responsibly.
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