Odisha's Urgent Plea for Power Infrastructure Support

Odisha has requested the Centre for early approval of Rs 3,069 crore under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme. The state emphasizes the need for disaster-resilient infrastructure due to frequent natural calamities and seeks additional power allocation from the NLC Talabira project.

In a crucial appeal, the Odisha government has requested the Centre to expedite the approval of Rs 3,069 crore under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS). Deputy Chief Minister K V Singh Deo presented this demand to Union Power Minister Manohar Lal during a recent meeting in New Delhi.

The RDSS aims to curtail technical and commercial losses across India by financially aiding power distribution companies for infrastructure upgrades. This includes projects for prepaid consumer metering and system metering contingent on meeting specified reforms and benchmarks.

With Odisha vulnerable to cyclones and floods, the state highlights its urgent need for disaster-resilient power infrastructure, such as selective underground cabling, especially near coastal areas. The state also seeks an additional 800 MW from the NLC Talabira Phase-II project, raising its total power share to 1,200 MW.