The State Government has sought an estimated Rs 2,600 crore external assistance from the World Bank in order to put in place a long-term cyclone mitigation programme, particularly in the vulnerable coastal and southern districts.
According to Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Surya Narayan Patro, the proposal for schematic assistance has been submitted to the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) authorities in the wake of the Phailin and subsequent floods in the State that caused severe damages in 18 districts of which Ganjam and Puri were the worst-hit.
He said a team of delegates for multi-lateral assistance is now visiting the cyclone affected districts for an on- the- spot assessment and ascertaining the financial need to meet a long-term rehabilitation and cyclone mitigation progamme. After the completion of the visit to cyclone affected districts, the delegates at a wrap up meeting with the senior officials of the State are expected to discuss and indentify the areas for need-based assistance, he disclosed.
Coastal districts being prone to cyclone, which had lakhs of houses damaged due to Phailin, it is proposed to build pucca houses in all the villages within 5km radius from the sea along the 480 km coast line as part of cyclone proof management. Besides, the proposal envisages construction and strengthening of saline and river embankments in 10 km stretch from the coast within the coastline to prevent storm surge and saline inundation, the Revenue Minister said, adding the project would be taken up in Ganjam and Puri districts in the first phase.
Besides, with the World Bank assistance, it has been proposed to undertake slum development programme in the Brahmapur Municipal Corporation area and a majority of the assistance would be invested in providing housing to the slum dwellers, he informed.
The Government has also sought setting up wind-proof power structures, particularly laying of underground electric cables in the coastal areas, starting from Ganjam district as the Phailin had damaged huge power infrastructure. The ADB would be requested for providing assistance for cyclone proof power infrastructure, Patro said.
Patro regretted that even after one- and- a- half months of the Phailin and floods, the Union Government had so far not given a single pie to Odisha to undertake the ongoing restoration work in the affected areas. However, the State Government has already pumped in around Rs1, 306 crore out of the State contingency relief fund to various departments to take up the restoration work, he maintained.