Policy Brief by Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) aims to explore disaster resilience strategies for power sector against cyclones and floods, focusing on the measures undertaken by Odisha.

• Disaster resilience is about anticipating, planning, and reducing disaster risk to effectively protect persons, communities and countries, their livelihoods, health, cultural heritage, socio-economic assets, and ecosystems.

Key findings for Odisha’s Transmission and Distribution (T&D) infrastructure

• 80% of electricity poles are vulnerable to high wind speeds.
• Over 75% of distribution lines cannot withstand cyclonic winds.
• Situation is likely to be similar in other coastal states.

Key Policy Recommendations

• Enhance Codes and Standards for Wind Zonation: Regularly update wind zonation maps to reflect most recent and localized meteorological data.
• Create Data Access Platforms for Physical Climate Risks: To facilitate clear communication and collaboration with disaster management authorities.
• Risk-informed Governance: Incorporate resilience component in policy, training and capacity building initiatives and develop cross-sectoral framework for enhanced stakeholder collaboration.
• Innovative Financing Solutions: Insurance, reinsurance, Catastrophe (CAT) bonds, creation of “Grant” component for Power Utilities to address emergent needs, etc.