The major PSU units and the two ports in Visakhapatnam, apart from the numerous small-scale units, the pharma units, the units in the SEZs and IT units are still unable to revive their operations even though power has been restored to several of them. They are in the process of regrouping and setting things right for resumption of operations.
In the Visakhapatnam steel plant, the authorities have set things in motion after power restoration and the major units such as blast furnaces and coke oven batteries are being made ready for production. The debris clearance operation is also underway in the plant and the steel plant residential colony.
In the Visakhapatnam main port, the breakwater in the outer harbour has been damaged. In the inner harbour too there has been extensive damage. There has been some damage to the conveyor belt as well at junctions. The port authorities are making efforts to bring back normalcy. The cargoes in the warehouses have also been damaged. The port authorities have not quantified the damage yet but it may be more than Rs 300 crores, it is said. In the private Gangavaram port too there has been considerable damage to the conveyor belt and it may take a while for resumption of operations. Only the Visakha Container Terminal Limited (VCTPL) is handling some vessels at present in the Visakhapatnam main port.
The refinery of the HPCL has not resumed production yet and the other Hindusthan Shipyard Limited, which according to HSL authorities has suffered a loss of Rs 500 crores, is in a similar position.
NTPC Simhadri resumes operation
The 2,000-MW thermal plant - NTPC Simhadri - is the first major PSU unit to resume operations. Three units (of 500 MWs apiece) are back to normal and the fourth unit is also ready for power generation, according to General Manager A.K Samantha.