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The Odisha government's exemplary handling of the severe cyclonic storm Phailin has earned it accolades from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
Impressed with the state government's massive evacuation and restoration efforts, the NDMA has held that Odisha's disaster management plan will be used as model for other states.
At a recent meeting, B Bhattacahrjee, member NDMA urged the concerned officials to submit a detailed note on the preparation, operations carried out and post cyclone restoration so that it can be developed as model for other states.
Abhaya Naik, managing director, Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) made a detailed presentation on the rescue and rehabilitation efforts of the government.
Bhattacharjee lauded the disaster resilient power supply system and disaster resilient housing scheme initiated by the state government.In the largest ever evacuation exercise, the state government evacuated about one million people before Phailin made its landfall near Gopalpur off the coast of south Odisha on October 12.
Power infrastructure was the hardest hit by the cyclonic storm. Phailin damaged 1796 feeders and affected 41152 sub-stations. In addition, it affected 37912.2 km of low tension lines, 4074 km of extra high tension lines, 408360 electric poles and 93 extra high tension towers.
The severe damage to electrical infrastructure impacted 39,14,714 consumers in 45,616 towns and villages.In Ganjam district alone, Phailin battered nearly 1600 km of 11 KV lines in Ganjam district while 241 km of 33 KV lines were badly damaged. The rebuilding exercise included replacement of 300 distribution sub-stations and 54 extra high tension towers. Besides, 13000 km of low tensions lines had to be repaired.
