Nature’s fury: Power infrastructure worth Rs 3.57 cr damaged in Nagpur in 3 years

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RTI reply says total of 1,004 poles got uprooted and 68.22 km overhead lines damaged

Nagpur: Natural disasters took heavy toll of power infrastructure erected by Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) and SNDL in the past three years. Mother Nature caused damage worth over Rs 3.57 crore to power infrastructure in Nagpur City as well as in Butibori MIDC area over a period of three years from 2016 to 2019.

The statistics have been provided by MSEDCL and SNDL in response to a query under Right to Information (RTI) Act posed by city activist Abhay Kolarkar. Kolarar had sought information about damage caused by natural calamities to power infrastructures in Nagpur city and in Butibori MIDC area. The reply was filed by MSEDCL Congress Nagar Division, MSEDCL’s Operations and Maintenance Division in Butibori MIDC, and SNDL Nagpur.

As per the RTI reply, power infrastructures in the areas covered by above-mentioned three establishments was damaged due to natural calamities. The damage was calculated to be worth Rs 3,57,50,162. A total of 1,004 poles got uprooted/damaged, and overhead lines running into 68.22 km also were damaged. To repair the damaged infrastructures, total expenditure of Rs 3,68,40,269 was incurred. As far as the establishment-wise damage is concerned, SNDL Nagpur incurred the maximum wrath of nature. For, the damage to power infrastructure in the area under its jurisdiction was assessed at Rs 2,74,51,099, during the period 2016-19.

The infrastructure in its area received the highest damage in 2019. But, the damage caused to electric poles and overhead lines was the minimum in its area. The highest number — 596 — electric poles were damaged in area under MSEDCL’s Butibori MIDC Division between 2016-17 and 2018-19. The overhead lines running into 23.67 kms also got damaged in this area. MSEDCL Nagpur Urban Circle reported damage of Rs 55,41,063 between 2016-17 and 2019-20 (up to July 2019). In all, 100 poles and overhead lines of 16.45 kms got damaged. The total expenditure incurred on repairs of the damaged infrastructure was Rs 61,05,170 in this regard.

The RTI activist Abhay Kolarkar had sought information for the period between January 1, 2016 and June 30, 2019. However, SNDL Nagpur furnished information for the period between January and December for 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. MSEDCL Butibori MIDC Division furnished information for the three financial years — 2016-17, 2017-18, and 2018- 19. MSEDCL Nagpur Urban Circle furnished information for the following years — 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19,and 2019-20 (up to July 2019). Besides, MSEDCL Nagpur Urban Circle furnished information about number of poles and overhead lines damaged in total for the above-mentioned period.