By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: The Inter-Ministerial Central team on Friday held discussion with Chief Secretary Asit Kumar Tripathy and other senior officials at the Lok Seva Bhawan here and assessed the damages caused due to ‘Bulbul’
The seven-member Central Team is led by Saheli Ghosh Roy, Joint Secretary (CIC), Ministry of Home Affairs, Vandana Singhal, Deena Nath, S. S. Modi, Amrish Pal Singh, Virendra Singh, and Sunil Kumar. Development Commissioner, Suresh Chandra Mohapatra, Principal Secretaries and Secretaries of the concerned departments, were present in the discussions with the Inter-Ministerial Central Team.
Saheli Ghosh Roy, Joint Secretary (CIC), Ministry of Home Affairs, said: “the restoration work in the affected districts is remarkable”.
Roy said that due to predictions a total of 19635 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.
According to reports, all 212 blocked roads have been cleared within 24 hours. So far, 15 lakh electricity connections have been restored and the drinking water supply also been restored.
As per preliminary reports, Bhadrak, Balasore, Kendrapara, and Jagatsinghpur districts have suffered extensive crop damage and electricity supply also suffered major damage in the very severe cyclonic storm.
Special Relief Commissioner Pradeep Jena informed that as the cyclone moved near to the Odisha Coast, it left a trail of destruction due to heavy winds and incessant rains under its impact. A total of 50 blocks, 12 towns, and 37.54 lakh people have been affected due to the cyclone, he added.
Besides, crops in 2.3 lakh ha agricultural land have been damaged. At present, the agriculture and revenue department officials are conducting a joint survey and the report will be completed within a week. “The damage assessment reports will be produced to the Centre very soon,” Jena informed.
