Bhubaneswar, June 9: The slow pace of power sector reforms continues to worry the state government with it having failed to complete the Capital Expenditure Programme (Capex) that started in November, 2010.

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik had launched the programme to strengthen the power sector.

"As the government has failed to carry out the reforms programme, the power distribution system is in a mess and the state is facing unscheduled power-cuts in many areas," said former minister and activist Panchanan Kanungo.

Leader of Opposition Narasingh Mishra said: "Unscheduled power cuts are continuing and nothing is being done about it. The state government is a perpetual liar."

Capex was started in 2010 with an investment of Rs 2,400 crore. According to it, the state government was to provide Rs 1,200 crore to the distribution companies as loan through Grid Corporation of Odisha (Gridco) with an equal amount to be paid by distribution companies.

Now, questions have been raised over its implementation because three privately-owned power-distribution companies have left the state following suspension of their services by Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC).

On the other hand, the state-run Central Electricity Supply Utility (Cesu) is on the verge of being sold out. The process has begun to appoint an advisor for sale. Ramesh Satpathy, another activist said: "The power sector has collapsed."

Also, projects under the State Capital Region Improvement of Power System (Scrips) that was conceived for 24X7 power supply to all categories of consumers is yet to take off. The state government has earmarked Rs 100 crore for the project.

Energy minister Pranab Das said: "Under the Scrips, the energy department has planned to change 1,500 old transformers."

Odisha Power Sector Improvement Projects (Opsip), another project to improve power position in southern Odisha, also failed to make any substantial changes. After south Odisha was hit by the cyclone in 2013, the government introduced Opsip and Rs 100 crore was allocated for this purpose.

"However, no work has been done in this regard and the southern part of the state is still facing frequent power-cuts," said Umesh Das, 45, a resident of Berhampur.

At this juncture, the state government has announced to provide power connection to 96 lakh consumers by 2019. At present, the state has 58 lakh consumers.

"We have planned to invest Rs 7,000 crore in the power sector in the next three to five years," said energy secretary Suresh Mohapatra.

The energy department has also planned to provide electricity to all villages and hamlets by 2019. So far, the state has provided power connection to 43,753 villages out of 47,677 and 54,061 hamlets out of 82,041.