BHUBANESWAR: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday asked officials to complete restoration work in the cyclone and flood affected areas of the State within the time scheduled for the purpose.Repair of roads, provision of drinking water, power connectivity and damage assessment should be completed in time, the Chief Minister said at a review meeting and said a team of independent observers will be sent to the affected areas to evaluate the progress of reconstruction and restoration work.
All the damaged roads under the Works Department have been repaired while work on rural roads, breaches in the canal embankments and minor irrigation projects are nearing completion. Meanwhile, the toll in Cyclone Titli and subsequent floods rose to 61, with the State Government confirming four more casualties on Saturday. Reports of death of 11 more people are being verified at district level, Chief Secretary AP Padhi said after a review of relief and restoration activities in the 17 affected districts.
Of the 61 deaths confirmed so far, three were fishermen from neighbouring Andhra Pradesh. They died while fishing near Odisha coast and their bodies were recovered, he said.The Chief Secretary said supply of drinking water to all urban local bodies (ULBs) and 570 out of a total of 650 villages in the affected Southern districts have been restored. The damaged tubewells were repaired, he added.
Power connectivity to about 90 per cent of the affected areas would be completed by October 22, Padhi said, adding 50 kg rice was provided to each affected family in the worst-hit Gajapati district. Financial assistance of `11 crore has been disbursed among the affected families in Gajapati district, while the process is in the final stage in Ganjam district, he said.Each family in Gajapati district is being given 50 kg rice and ` 1,000 cash as relief, while the affected families in Ganjam got 25 kg of rice and ` 2,000 cash.
Restoring lives
All damaged roads under Works Dept repaired
Breaches in canal embankments and minor irrigation projects nearing completion
Power connectivity to about 90 pc affected areas to be completed
by October 22
50 kg rice provided to each affected family in worst-hit Gajapati district