It’s like all works done in last 50 years, wiped out in 10 hours: Saurasbh Patel

Bhavnagar/Amreli: Never in the history, there was a cyclone in this area at 150-200 speed, said Energy Minister Saurabh Patel who was on visit to Mahuva area of cyclone-hit Bhavnagar city in Saurashtra region on Sunday.

‘Damage is unimaginable. Only in Bagdana sub-division 3200 poles have suffered damages. It’s like, all works done in last 50 years wiped out in 10 hours,’ he said while speaking to media persons on the impact of Tauktae cyclone which made landfall in Southern Saurashtra areas on 17-18 May.

Patel said Mahuva town will start getting power supply from Monday.

He said, Jyotigram lines (for home usage of power) and agriculture supply lines both have suffered massive damages. The Government’s priority is to restore non-agriculture power first.

Speaking at Amreli today, Patel said power supply has been restored in most of the towns barring Jafrabad and Rajula after cyclone. He said around 1,000 persons under GETCO and PGVCL are working in each taluka for restoration of power on war foot basis.

‘We are bringing teams from Bengal and Bihar by air,’ he said adding that water supply is being ensured through tankers and Diesel generator sets in the villages where power supply is off.

Power supply to over half of villages of Gujarat was disrupted due to cyclone Tauktae on 17-18 May. In total over 1 lakh electricity poles/towers had suffered damages. Hundreds of villages are even today without power supply due to massive damage to power infrastructure in the areas through which cyclone passed with wind speed of 100 to 200 km. DeshGujarat