Odisha’s Fani preparedness world-class: NDMA

Nation Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s preparedness and response to the devastating Cyclone Fani from the State to community level was world-class, said National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Member Kamal Kishore here on Thursday.

Kishore opined this while attending a wrap-up meeting with the State Government under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi at the State Secretariat. Special Relief Commissioner Bishnupada Sethi presented the Fani updates for discussion.

“Odisha has set new benchmarks in disaster management and now other States are to emulate it. The experience and expertise of Odisha is recorded as a model at national and international level.  We have heard and marked satisfaction level of the people in rescue and relief operations at all places we visited. The cyclone shelters have been well managed under the State Government scheme of Apadamitras (friends in disaster),” said Kishore.

Informing that the phase of rehabilitation and restoration in underway, the Chief Secretary hailed the NDMA technical expertise and guidance  and said funds of Rs.1000 crore released after declaration of the Prime Minister has already been exhausted. He urged the NDMA for early release of Rs 5,200 crore from the NDRF.

Padhi further requested NDMA to ask the telecom companies to have definite SOP and preparedness for dealing with disaster situation as communication and data transfer is of crucial importance in relief and restoration works. Disbursement of compensation to affected people is also hit due to lack of data connectivity, said Padhi.

SRC Sethi appraised that around 1.35 lakh houses were damaged fully or severely, 1.40 lakh pucca and 2.72 lakh kuchha were damaged partially, 7,547 huts and 1.19 cowsheds were damaged fully. Crop loss to the extent of 33 per cent above took place in 1,46,311 hectares because of the cyclone and heavy rainfall. Around 6,281 large animals and 53.26 lakh poultry birds were affected. The cyclone caused heavy livelihood loss for 71,060 traditional craftsmen, 42,488 handloom weavers, 12,135 sericulture farmers. Besides, 6,416 fishing boats and 8,828 fishing nets were damaged and around 573 micro and small enterprises along with salt industries severely affected.

Sethi requested to include livelihood support to the affected street vendors in the SDRF/NDRF norms.

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