The Congress on Thursday questioned the State Government’s cyclone preparedness strategy and described the efforts to deal with natural disasters as an attempt to garner certificates and appreciations.
While demanding speedy restoration of electricity, road communications and drinking water facilities and health checkups of affected people besides fast pacing of Covid-related activities, the party also sought financial assistance for farmers, fishermen and horticulture farmers after quick assessment of their losses.PCC president Niranjan Patnaik, pointing figures at the Naveen Patnaik Government, said that every time the State faces a cyclone, the Government relocates people from their homes to nearby shelters, meaning thereby that the Government has so far failed to provide pucca houses to people living in low-lying areas,.
“Since the 1999 Super Cyclone, the State has faced eight severe cyclones and every time we are shifting people. This time, you have shifted 7,03,000 people from four districts. What were you doing during the last 21 years in matter of providing pucca houses?” Patnaik asked the Government.
He alleged that the BJD Government seems to be only running after prizes, awards, certifications and appreciations but have utterly failed to create permanent and sustained infrastructure for the people.
“It was the Congress Government which had prepared groundwork for establishing cyclone shelters and disaster mitigation initiatives; your Government has not done anything concrete in the last 21 years, not even Biju Pucca Ghar for cyclone victims,” Patnaik stated.