Rs 15-cr losses to infrastructure: Powercom

The recent floods and storms that lashed the state have not only hit farmers hard,damaging their crops and houses,but it has also cost the state exchequer heavily by damaging infrastructure.

While damage to roads and other infrastructure is being assessed by the respective departments,the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (Powercom) says it has suffered losses to the tune of Rs 15 crore. The corporation is in the process of restoring all damaged transformers,grid stations,transmission lines and uprooted electricity poles. According to reports,the maximum damage was caused in Ludhiana and Mohali districts,besides the areas adjoining Haryana. While the power infrastructure in Ludhiana district suffered losses to the tune of Rs 330 lakh,the figure is Rs 205 lakh in Mohali district.

The losses in Patiala district,where the seasonal Ghaggar river in spate caused havoc,were assessed at Rs 162 lakh,while that in Fatehgarh Sahib were to the tune of Rs 174 lakh.

Among the other districts badly affected by the floods were Sangrur and Mansa,which suffered losses to the tune of Rs 105 lakh and Rs 90 lakh,respectively,according to Powercom estimates.

The border district of Ferozepur,where the Sutlej river causes floods every year,has already suffered losses to the tune of Rs 125 lakh. The figures of losses in Ropar and Muktsar districts are Rs 88 lakh and Rs 100 lakh,respectively.

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has,meanwhile,asked the Powercom to release additional power and connections to all villages affected by the recent floods to help them re-sow paddy and other crops.

Powercom Director (Commercial) Arun Verma told The Indian Express that they were releasing additional power to all such villages. In some villages,as much as 20 hours of power is being provided in a day,according to their needs, he said.

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