Samikhsya Bureau
The Odisha government today requested the Centre to provide 5,000 workforce from West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Telengana to help in restoring power supply in Fani hit areas of Coastal Odisha.
Chief Secretary A P Padhi made this demand while reviewing the post Fani situation with the cabinet secretary.
Mr Padhi emphasised on the restoration of electricity and mobile connectivity as cyclone Fani has badly disrupted the power and telecom infrastructure.
Though power was restored in very selected pockets in Bhubaneswar today, however, major areas in Puri, Khurdah and in neighbouring districts are still without power.
The situation is more devastating in Puri as the Cyclone Fani which hit the Puri coast, has extensively damaged power, telecom and houses.
Mr Padhi requested the cabinet secretary to restore mobile connectivity in district and block headquarters in affected districts, particularly in Puri as relief operation is being seriously hampered in the absence of mobile connectivity.
The state government has submitted a memorandum to the Centre seeking an assistance of Rs 17,000 Crore which includes Rs 10,000 Crore for cyclone proof energy infrastructure and Rs 7,000 Crore for converting all kuchha houses to pucca ones in coastal district.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi who made an aerial survey of the cyclone hit areas yesterday had announced an assistance of Rs 1000 Crore for Odisha.
The Centre has already released Rs 342.87 Crores as advance to SDRF.
Mr Padhi said water supply has almost normalised but restoration of power supply will take time.However, he said, he could not say exactly when the power supply will be restored.
A little over 1.48 Crore population ,spread over 14 districts, had been hit by Fani which claimed 35 lives.
