Bhubaneswar: The state government Saturday claimed cyclone Fani took 43 lives and uprooted nearly 14 lakh trees in the affected areas.
Addressing reporters here, Information and Public Relations (I&PR) Commissioner-cum-Secretary Sanjay Singh said the total loss of trees in the calamity is estimated to be `537 crore in addition to the loss of human life. Two new deaths were reported from Cuttack and Khurda district Saturday.
“Altogether, 9 lakh trees in forest and sanctuary areas and 5 lakh trees elsewhere were uprooted. Meanwhile, 8 lakh seedlings were also damaged,” Singh said.
He said 10 mobile water treatment plants have been set up and special arrangements are being made to install mobile telecom towers at Swargadwar, Railway Station, Chakratirtha Road and other areas of Puri to ensure good penetration of mobile network in unserved areas by Sunday.
While the state government claimed to have restored power and drinking water supply in urban pockets of Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur and Cuttack districts, people Saturday blocked roads connecting Paradip and Cuttack, and the highway linking Bhubaneswar with Puri, alleging lack of basic amenities.
Similar agitations were seen in parts of Bhubaneswar where power continued to remain elusive for the eighth consecutive day. In the pilgrim town, locals were leaving homes and shifting to other places temporarily, even as the state government claimed it was undertaking relief work on war-footing.
“We left Puri and moved to Koraput as there is no certainty about restoration of power and water supply. Bhubaneswar, too, has been severely hit by power and water crisis. “Hotel and guest house owners are charging exorbitantly due to rush,” said Rathindra Mishra, a native of Puri Mausima Lane.
A report from Jajpur district said angry locals in Binjharpur tehsil beat up a revenue official as they did not get relief as announced by the state government.
Jajpur District Collector RK Das said “stringent action” would be taken against those found guilty of assaulting the official.
In almost all electricity offices in the coastal districts, police personnel have been deployed to tackle people attempting to attack officials, according to senior officer in the state government.
Meanwhile, Special Relief Commissioner BP Sethi in a letter to the collector of Khurda sought immediate distribution of relief material and cash to affected people. He said he received complaints that relief was being denied to beneficiaries.
NDRF director general SN Pradhan, who met Chief Secretary AP Padhi and the special relief commissioner, said specialised force would assist the government till power is restored in the state.
“The NDRF has deployed 50 teams of personnel. They are equipped with sophisticated power cutters, plasma cutters and gas cutters. Our personnel are aiding the state in restoring power,” he added.
PNN
