Bhubaneswar – In a bid to reinforce its power infrastructure and meet rising energy demands, the Odisha government has urged the Centre to expedite the approval of Rs 3,069 crore under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS). The appeal was made by Deputy Chief Minister K V Singh Deo during a meeting with Union Power Minister Manohar Lal in New Delhi.
The RDSS, a flagship initiative of the central government, aims to reduce aggregate technical and commercial losses across India while modernizing the distribution system. It provides financial support to power distribution companies for upgrading infrastructure, introducing prepaid smart meters, and improving system efficiency—provided certain reform benchmarks are met.
During the discussion, Singh Deo emphasized Odisha’s unique vulnerabilities to frequent natural disasters such as cyclones and floods. He highlighted the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure’s recommendation to develop disaster-resilient power systems, including underground cabling in vulnerable coastal stretches—particularly within 30 kilometers of the coastline. He urged that such resilience-focused projects be prioritized under the RDSS framework.
With electricity demand in the state growing steadily, Singh Deo also pressed for an increased allocation of power from the NLC Talabira thermal power project. While Odisha currently receives 400 megawatts from Phase I of the project, the Deputy Chief Minister requested an additional 800 megawatts from Phase II, which would raise the state’s total share to 1,200 megawatts out of the project’s 3,200 megawatt capacity.
This multi-pronged request underscores Odisha’s broader strategy to build a modern, disaster-ready power infrastructure while securing adequate energy supply for its development goals.
