CM to lay foundation stone today

- Says Hudhud experience provided an opportunity in disaster management for the state govt
- Once the project is completed in Vizag, it will be extended to all important cities on the coast in the state
- Project involving 675 km underground power cabling, gas insulated substations/indoor substations is being taken with Rs 720 cr WB funding

Amaravati: In the wake of large-scale disruption to communication system as was evident in cyclone Hudhud, that left a trail of destruction in Vizag and other parts of north Andhra, the state government is gearing up to insulate power infrastructure from such vagaries of nature through underground electric cabling. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is set to lay foundation stone for the prestigious underground cable system at Pandurangapuram electric substation premises near RK beach in Visakhapatnam on Monday.

In a teleconference from his residence at Undavalli here on Sunday with ministers K Kala Venkata Rao, Nara Lokesh, Dr P Narayana, Chief Secretary Dinesh Kumar and several higher officials, the Chief Minister said the government had drawn plans for infrastructure that can withstand any severe natural calamity. “We should be able to restore power supply within 24 hours after the disaster. Cyclones are nothing new to our country and the state. As a matter of fact, they may strike anywhere on the globe. What matters is how fast we can restore normalcy after the cyclone. To do that, the state government is making use of global technology to withstand any natural calamity like Hudhud. I cannot forget the unstinted support extended by citizens of Vizag at that time, throughout my life. I was able to lead the city to get into the normalcy within a week,” he said.

The Chief Minister recalled that the entire world was stunned by the severity of Hudhud super cyclone as the Visakhapatnam was battered by gales of 200 kmph speed. With the support of the Union government, restoration work was taken up on a war footing and normalcy was restored within a very short period. “The way the state government restored normalcy in cyclone-hit Vizag has been considered ideal by many in the world. Having learnt lessons from experiences of Hudhud, implementation of a perfect disaster management system for quick restoration, enhancing the resilience of public services and to build a perfect electricity network to respond effectively and solve crisis during emergency is very much essential for Andhra Pradesh,” he said.

For a state which has a vast coastline of 974 km, safe and weather-proof power network is necessary to restore power supply within 24 hours in case of natural calamities. Principal secretary (energy) Ajay Jain said that in order to mitigate these effects, the state government planned underground cabling of around 675 km, gas insulated substations/indoor substations exclusively for Vizag with Rs 720-crore World Bank funding. Once these projects are completed, similar works would be initiated across the key cities on coastal line to have an interruption-free power supply even during natural calamities.

Expressing happiness over the plans, the Chief Minister said Hudhud had served as an opportunity for AP in disaster management. “We transformed Hudhud crisis into an opportunity. AP adopted LED streetlighting technology. Now that system became a role model for the entire country and even the world.

Visakhapatnam LED Street Lighting was discussed during environment summit in Paris and drew the attention of BRICS summit apart from recognition of prestigious organisations like World bank, International Energy Agency (IEA), etc., I wish that we continue the legacy to become a pioneer even in underground cabling by doing that on a large-scale. I am sure that the Visakhapatnam will be soon recognised as mini-Mumbai in future due to increased economic activity. It has scope to be developed into IT and Tourism Hub of the nation, centre for developing Arts and Film Industry”.

AP Eastern Power Distribution Company Ltd chairman and managing director H Y Dora said that the underground cabling system is being taken up in a phased manner.

It is expected to be completed within one and-a-half-years benefiting around 2 lakh households. Apart from protecting the electricity transmission network from natural calamities, the underground cabling system is safe for the people and also ensures uninterrupted power supply even during calamities, he added.