Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has intensified efforts to restore drinking water supply and road connectivity in cyclone-hit Ganjam, Gajapati and Kandhamala districts. Engineers, water tankers, generators and emergency response teams have been deployed as flood-like conditions continue to disrupt essential services in several areas, officials said on Monday.
The Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (RWSS) Department has repaired and disinfected 4,475 of the 4,572 handpumps affected by the cyclone. It has also restored 247 of the 593 damaged piped water supply projects, officials said.
Senior officials, including chief engineers and Officers on Special Duty (OSDs), are directly supervising restoration operations in the three districts. As many as 16 assistant engineers and junior engineers from neighbouring divisions have also been deployed to expedite the restoration of water supply infrastructure.
The department has disinfected 265 water sources associated with piped water supply projects and maintained a reserve stock of 921 bags of bleaching powder to meet additional requirements.
To ensure the safety of drinking water, samples collected from 3,882 handpumps and 244 piped water supply sources have been tested, the department said.
Emergency drinking water distribution has also been stepped up in the affected areas. So far, 4,22,300 water bottles and 3,18,500 water pouches produced through Mobile Water Treatment Units (MTUs) have been distributed, while another 3,91,000 units are available in stock.
Nine mobile water treatment units are operating in Ganjam and Kandhamala districts, while two others are functioning under the Berhampur Municipal Corporation. Another unit is being sent to Gajapati district.
To maintain water supply in areas affected by infrastructure damage and power disruptions, 235 water tankers, 80 tractor-mounted Sintex tanks and 16 dedicated water supply tractors have been deployed in rural areas. Another 23 tankers are serving the Berhampur Municipal Corporation, while seven have been deployed in Asika Block and the Notified Area.
The department has also pressed 84 diesel generator sets into service to ensure the uninterrupted operation of water supply facilities in areas where electricity has been disrupted.
Meanwhile, the Rural Development Department has launched extensive road restoration operations to restore normal connectivity in the cyclone-affected districts. Emergency control rooms and rescue teams have been made operational round the clock to respond to emergencies.
In Ganjam district, landslide debris has been cleared from 11 locations in Kukudakhandi and Patrapur blocks, while restoration work is underway at 10 other locations.
Of the 166 road breaches reported across 14 blocks in the district, 110 have been closed, while work is progressing at the remaining 56 locations. Restoration work is also underway on 186 damaged roads.
In Gajapati district, debris has been cleared from 19 affected roads across seven blocks. Traffic movement has been restored on five roads disrupted by waterlogging, while seven road breaches across three blocks have been closed to vehicular traffic. Temporary restoration work is continuing on one road in Gosani block.
In Kandhamala district, 11 of the 31 road breaches reported across three blocks have been closed, while work is underway at the remaining 20 locations. Restoration work is also in progress on 38 damaged roads.
The Departmental Commissioner-cum-Secretary is coordinating with the Chief Secretary and the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) to monitor relief and restoration operations.
The government said efforts were underway to restore essential services and ensure the availability of safe drinking water and road connectivity in all affected areas.
