Ganjam district administration has sought an assistance of about ` 1800 crore from the World Bank (WB) and Asian Development Bank (ADB) for long-term disaster mitigation measures.
A joint mission of World Bank and ADB visited different areas of cyclone-hit Ganjam district to assess the damage.
The 14-member team along with Government officers visited slums in Berhampur city and several coastal villages under Ganjam, Chhatrapur and Rangeilunda blocks for three days last week to assess the damage caused by cyclone Phailin, a senior district officer said.
The team, led by senior disaster risk management specialist Deepak Singh, also discussed the situation with district administration officials at Chhatrapur.
“We submitted reports on the damage caused by the cyclone and the requirement of funds for constructing cyclone-proof houses within five km of sea shore and developing disaster proof power infrastructure to the team,” the officer said.
Elaborating on financial assistance, the officer said about ` 600 crore will be required for constructing cyclone proof houses with RCC roof, ` 800 crore for developing power infrastructure which will withstand type-5 cyclone and ` 400 crore for urban slum development.
Efforts are on to mobilise ` 250 crore from the Centre for the urban slum development. The World Bank has been requested to provide the balance requirement of ` 150 crore, he said.
The team has sought some added information regarding the damage and this will be provided to them in proper format, the officer said.
The team also visited Khurda and Puri districts which were affected by the cyclone.
Meanwhile, the State Government has sought ` 2,225 crore of external assistance to undertake restoration and rehabilitation work during Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s discussion with representatives of the international funding agencies on November 13.
The WB and ADB have agreed in principle to provide an assistance of 313 million dollar. The international banks are likely to sanction the amount after assessing the damage, Revenue Minister SN Patro said.
Ganjam district administration has identified around 18,000 families in 113 villages in five coastal blocks for shifting them to safer places and rehabilitate them in pucca houses.The ADB has also agreed to provide 70 million dollar for cyclone insulated power infrastructure and another 35 million dollar for strengthening river and saline embankments.
The joint mission will have a wrap up meeting with senior officers of the State Government here on December 4.