Bhubaneswar, May 27: If the weather is not ready to cool down, the state government has some words of hope - it has assured of steps to improve the power scenario.

For the past three days, the city and its other parts and Cuttack had been reeling from power cuts as the two towers at Nachuni had collapsed.

Energy secretary Suresh Mohapatra said: "We have made alternative arrangements to bring power to the Chandaka grid. With this, we would arrange the additional 50MW to 60MW power to make up the shortfall caused due to tower collapse."

Each day, the city's requirement during the peak hours hovers around 325MW. "The demand has gone up from 280MW to 325MW. However, we have adequate power to meet it," said an official of the Central Electricity Supply Utility (Cesu).

The energy department also claimed that there would be no more power cuts in other parts of the state. "Many pockets may witness low-voltage, but there will be no power cuts," Mohapatra said.

Also, the government would invest around Rs 7,000 crore to strengthen the power distribution system. "While the state government would invest around Rs 5,000 crore in the sector, the rest of the money would be invested by Odisha Power Transmission Corporation Limited in the next four years," he said.

Mohapatra said: "The number of consumers is up by more than three times in the past one decade. It has jumped to 56 lakh from 16 lakh. The demand has gone up, and there is a pressure on the distribution system - which led to supply getting tripped. Though we have adequate power, we cannot distribute it."

"The state would be covered under one power distribution network. . More than 200 substations are ready to be operational. There would be a substation each every 20km,"said Mohapatra.

An official said the power reform programme for Bhubaneswar and its surrounding areas under the Capital Expenditure Programme was on the fast track.

Fuel scarcity

Petrol and diesel scarcity at filling stations in various parts of the state has been affected due to delay in shipments reaching Paradip port.

Utkal Petroleum Dealers' Association general secretary Sanjya Lath said since four refineries in the country were being upgraded, oil companies were trying to buy petroleum from abroad - which were being transported through ships. The shipment's delay in reaching Paradip has triggered the crisis.