Cyclone Amphan: Odisha seeks Rs 20,000 Cr from Center for infrastructural restoration

In order to develop a disaster-resilient infrastructure and to restore dam caused by Cyclone Amphan, Odisha government has sought an estimated amount of Rs 20,000 crore from Center.

A seven-member Central team had visited state to assess dam caused by Cyclone Amphan. team appreciated preparedness, response, and disaster manment skill of state in ir meeting with Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy and or senior officers in Lokseva Bhawan conference hall on Friday evening.

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Additional Chief Secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena informed that a preliminary estimate of around Rs 20,000 crore is required for building resilient infrastructure to restore dam caused by Cyclone Amphan. Chief Secretary Tripathy said that final memorandum would be sent regarding this within next week.

Applauding Odisha government for its preventive measures ahead of cyclone, team said that pre-positioning of manpower and machines in vulnerable areas, timely evacuation of people from low lying areas, and kutcha houses, and community involvement are state's achievements in combating disaster. team also ted that electricity in remote areas was also restored within 24 to 72 hours.

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Aid in building cyclone resilient infrastructure

"Due to geo-climatic location of Odisha and climate change impacts, cyclones are going to be a regular feature in summer, monsoon and post-monsoon months. So, we request Government of India to support us for building cyclone resilient infrastructure than that of spending a huge amount each year towards immediate restoration and rehabilitation," Chief Secretary Tripathy said.

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Additional Chief Secretary emphasised on need for laying underground cable in urban areas, facilitating power transmission and distribution infrastructure in rural areas, building remote control GIS grid, raising height of saline embankments at least up to 6.5 meters above sea level and converting 1.66 lakh kutcha houses to cyclone resilient pucca houses.

Development Commissioner Suresh Chandra Mohapatra along with Principal Secretaries and Secretaries of different departments took part in discussions. Central team visited Balasore, Bhadrakh, Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapara districts in two different groups.

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(With inputs from ANI)