The heavy rains on Monday and Tuesday have worsened the sufferings of the Phailin victims of Ganjam district at a time when a large number of the shelter-less victims are yet to get polythene sheets particularly in Humma and Malad gram panchayats.
In several villages under Chhatrapur and Ganjam blocks and slum areas in the Brahmapur Municipal Corporation, the cyclone has severely damaged coconut and cashew plantations besides causing heavy casualties to livestock. When this correspondent visited some villages in Kaliapalli GP on Monday, many victims complained that even after lapse of ten days of the calamity, they were yet to receive polythene for their temporary shelter and no assessment has been made about the actual loss of their livestock including poultry, sheep, and goats, the cost of which would run into lakhs of rupees.
The distribution of relief materials in Kahalipalli, Chamakhandi and Bhikaripalli is reportedly made on a partisan basis. While in some villages every household has got a cash of Rs 500 along with 50 kg of rice, in some other villages only BPl and APl cardholders are provided 50 kg of rice depriving others of the much-needed succour.
There is a strong public perception that the Government should constitute special squads exclusively to monitor and assess the damage of vegetables and horticulture crops and livestock as the skeleton staff positions in the concerned departments cannot match to the gigantic task of enumeration.
The RIs are found overburdened with the twin responsibilities of distributing polythene and enumeration of house damages. There are no staffs yet posted to make village-wise assessment of damages pertaining to crops though in Sana Ramachandrapur and Palur GPs under Ganjam block, vegetable seedlings of farmers worth lakhs of rupees were completely washed away, said former Chairman of Ganjam block Surat Pahan.
When contacted, an RI at Kaliapalli said they have not been directed to survey the house damages, while another RI said they would not take into account the damages caused to concrete and tile roofs covering staircases, even though the owners have spent money in such constructions.
A group of villagers, on the other hand, alleged that the concerned RIs who have been deputed to assess house damages are preparing reports by collecting data from select villagers sitting at one place or in their camps instead of visiting door to door as the RIs do not have adequate supporting staff to assist them.