Odisha Seeks ₹3,069 Crore Central Assistance for Power Sector, Pushes for Disaster-Resilient Infrastructure

Bhubaneswar: To strengthen Odisha’s power sector and enhance disaster resilience, Deputy Chief Minister  Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo met with Hon’ble Union Minister for Power, Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal today in New Delhi. The meeting focused on several key demands, including urgent financial support and additional power allocation to meet the state’s growing energy needs.

During the meeting, the Deputy Chief Minister sought early sanction of ₹3,069 crore under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), aimed at upgrading Odisha’s power distribution infrastructure. He emphasized that the state’s vulnerability to frequent cyclones and floods necessitates disaster-resilient systems, particularly through selective underground cabling in vulnerable coastal areas—especially within 30 km of the coastline.

The Deputy CM also highlighted the proposal put forth by the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), which advocates for robust power infrastructure to withstand extreme weather conditions. He urged the Union Government to extend Central Financial Assistance to implement this critical initiative.

With power demand rising rapidly, Singh Deo also requested the allocation of 800 MW of power from the NLC Talabira Phase-II project to Odisha. The state has already been allotted 400 MW in Phase-I. If approved, this would raise Odisha’s total share to 1,200 MW from the 3,200 MW total project capacity—enabling the state to better serve its domestic and industrial energy needs.

“Odisha has made consistent strides in power sector development. With adequate central support, the state can ensure reliable and resilient energy systems that not only empower our citizens but also align with the national goal of energy security,” said Singh Deo following the meeting.