Central Team Lauds Odisha Govt for Post Bulbul Restoration Works

Bhubaneswar: The Inter-Ministerial Central team on Friday lauded the Odisha Government for its restoration works in the cyclone Bulbul-hit districts.

The seven-member team, which visited the cyclone-affected areas in the State, praised the relief and restoration works of the government.

After discussion with Odisha Chief Secretary Asit Kumar Tripathy and other officials at the Lok Seva Bhawan here, the Central team leader Saheli Ghosh Roy, Joint Secretary (CIC), Ministry of Home Affairs, expressed her satisfaction over the pre and post-measures taken by the State government during the disaster to tackle the situation.

“The restoration work in the affected districts is remarkable”, Roy told the media.

Within 24 hours of Bulbul, all 212 blocked roads have been cleared. As many as 15 lakh electricity connections have been restored and the drinking water supply has also been restored in the affected areas.

Due to predictions a total of 19,635 fishing boats including some farmers were evacuated from the sea due to cyclone Bulbul. Besides, 381 fishermen and 43 boats were provided shelter and necessary help in Odisha. This was a result of preparedness and mock drills held by the State Government, Roy stated.

The Central team noted that the agriculture sector has been the worst affected in the calamity.

The preliminary reports show that Bhadrak, Balasore, Kendrapara, and Jagatsinghpur districts have faced extensive crop damage and electricity supply also suffered major damage in the very severe cyclonic storm.

A total of 50 blocks, 12 towns, and 37.54 lakh people have been affected due to the cyclone, informed Special Relief Commissioner Pradeep Jena.

Crops in 2.3 lakh ha agricultural land have been damaged.

The agriculture and revenue department officials are conducting a joint survey and the report will be completed within a week.

The State Government will submit a memorandum on the damage caused by the natural disaster to the Centre by the next week, the SRC informed.

The Centre will be requested to relax the norms of the post-cyclone assistance for Odisha, he added.