Underground power supply system mooted for greater Berhampur

Proposals are on to have underground power supply system for greater Berhampur comprising the city, Chatrapur and Gopalpur. If implemented it would end vagaries of complete power disruption in the city for several days after major cyclones like those happened during super cyclone of 1999 and Phailin cyclone of 2013. According to the authorities of the Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BMC), this project of underground power supply would be taken up with assistance of the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

At a meeting of the BMC, the corporators unanimously supported this proposed project. Under this project all major power supply cables in the areas concerned would be placed underground. Power would be supplied to the consumers through a network of underground cables and high power transformers due to which transmission loss would be reduced to a large extent. The detailed project report is being prepared for the project. This underground power supply project for Berhampur would cost around Rs. 900 crore, informed officials of the power distribution company, Southco. A two-member team of the ADB visited the city to make on the spot survey for the project in different areas. They also held discussions with Berhampur Mayor K.Madhavi and BMC commissioner Ajit Mishra regarding the project. Similar underground power supply project is under way in Puri. It may be noted that power sector had incurred highest loss during Phailin cyclone. The restoration cost was also high.

Source: The Hindu