Puri: Almost two weeks after extremely severe cyclonic storm ‘Fani’ battered the holy town of Puri, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Wednesday made a visit to the town and announced a slew of assistance to pacify the cyclone-hit residents of this district.
Patnaik along with Chief Secretary Aditya Padhi, met Puri collector Balwant Singh and SP Uma Shankar Dash and held a review of the ground conditions at the Circuit House here.
Speaking to press after the meetings, the Chief Minister announced that each cyclone-hit family will get 2.5 litres of kerosene free of cost every 10 days till power supply has been restored and 10 lakh candles will also be distributed in the town. Besides, each cyclone hit family will be given 50 kilograms of rice. It would include those who do not have ration card. Free sanitary pads will also be made available for two months.
Patnaik also added that about 10,000 personnel have been engaged in the restoration work in Puri district and electricity will be provided as soon as possible. Puri Town, Nimapara and Konark NACs will get power supply Wednesday night in a phased manner, he assured.
Incidentally, Patnaik’s visit and announcements coincide with the announcement that Srimandir along with other important buildings of Puri will get electricity by Wednesday evening and the electricity restoration works would be completed in the town within next five days. Lack of power supply had been the chief cause of resentment among the denizens here.
In a related note, it may be informed here that in another review meeting held Wednesday, Energy Minister Sushant Singh suggested that power restoration work in Puri is likely to take up to a month.