The very severe cyclonic storm Yaas which hit the Balasore coast on May 26 last has affected 60 lakh people in 11,000 villages and destroyed property and infrastructure worth Rs 610 crore, an official release said here on Wednesday.
Special Relief Commissioner (RC) P K Jena said 60 lakh people in 11,000 villages were affected by the cyclone and government infrastructure worth Rs 520 crore and individual property worth Rs 90 crore was damaged in the cyclone.
Total loss of property, he said, would be to the tune of Rs 610 crore, adding Rs 66 crore would be needed to provide relief to the affected people.
The SRC said the problem would be for the Kharif crop in cyclone affected coastal districts as saline water entered into the crop fields.
The scientists of the Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology and CSIR were asked to make a study and submit a report.
Reviewing the damage caused by the cyclone and the restoration work undertaken in the post cyclone period through video conferencing, CM Patnaik said the documentation need to be made as it would help in management of the calamities in future.
The Chief Minister said various departments of the government and the district administrations have saved many lives by their remarkable work during the cyclone. The restoration work was also done in a very short span of time after the cyclone.
CM Patnaik commended all for their work and stressed on the documentation of the steps taken in the pre and post cyclone period.
At the meeting, Chief Secretary S C Mohapatra said 150 villages were submerged in the cyclone and crops were damaged due to ingress of saline water from the sea.
In the post cyclone period 1,000 DG set, tanker and PVC tanks were used to provide drinking water and electricity to people.
The Secretary of Energy department said 30 lakh consumers were affected by the cyclone and power has been restored to 99.8 percent of the consumers so far.
As many as 58 roads in eight towns, street lights and a bridge were damaged in the cyclone. Except Basudevpur drinking water arrangement was done within 24 hours in all areas.
The Water Resources department estimated the loss of Rs 108 crore while the works department estimated Rs 75 crore loss and the Rs.60 crore property of the rural development department was destroyed in the cyclone.
