Berhampur: The Odisha government's restoration and rehabilitation work after cyclone Phailin came in for UN appreciation today.
"A lot of development has taken place within only two months of the cyclone, special representative of the UN secretary general for disaster risk reduction Margareta Wahlstrom told reporters here after visiting some of the worst-cyclone hit areas in Ganjam district.
After an on-the spot visit, the UN representative said, "It appears from the damaged structures in the affected areas that damages were severe.?
At the same time she also appreciated the government for undertaking restoration activities promptly.
Wahlstrom, however, ruled out any direct assistance from the UN to the Odisha government for undertaking restoration works in the affected areas.
The Indian government has lot of resources to undertake such work. The UN has no such provision for direct funding,? she said replying to a question.
Hailing the Odisha government for effective preparedness ahead of the cyclone, the UN had yesterday honoured Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik by presenting a citation as a mark of recognition.
The UN representative visited the cyclone ravaged Matikhala, Gopalpur, Berhampur University, Nua Golabandh and a slum pocket in Berhampur town.
She also interacted with the cyclone-affected people in these areas and the corporators of the Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BMC) besides meeting vice chancellor of Berhampur University Deepak Kumar Behera.
"The team effort of our district personnel, who toiled hard round the clock before the cyclone strike and after the disaster, made possible the quick restoration work, district collector Krishan Kumar told the UN representative.
The collector of Ganjam district informed the UN representative that timely evacuation of people from the coastal villages within five-km distance from the coast, was one of the factors that helped reduce human casualty.
Of the total 21 number of people killed in the cyclone Phailin, highest 13 persons had lost their lives in Ganjam district.
While almost all the roads to the block headquarters were cleared within 48 hours of the cyclone in the district with the help of the personnel from National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Odisha disaster rapid action force (ODRAF), forest and police persons, relief was also distributed to the victims during that period.
The district administration of Ganjam has also taken up a time-bound programme for restoration work of different departments, the sources said.