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New Delhi : Continuing the coordination efforts and restoration measures in the areas of Odisha affected by cyclone ‘Fani’, the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) under Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha met again on May 6, 2019,  for the seventh time in succession.

As announced by Prime Minister after his aerial survey and review of relief efforts with the Odisha Government, Ministry of Home Affairs has announced a further release of Rs 1,000 crore for assistance to the State. Earlier Rs 341 crores had been provided to Odisha as an advance to its State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF).

Odisha informed that restoration of Power and Telecommunication infrastructure continue to remain the major priority in the Cyclone affected areas of the State. Around 50% power restoration has been reported while more works need to be done in Bhubaneswar and Puri. The NEET examination, which was postponed, will now be held on May 20, 2019. Medicine dispatched by the Centre have been received and all measures were being taken to prevent any outbreak of diseases.

Reviewing the relief measures, Cabinet Secretary stressed that power connectivity need to be restored on priority basis as drinking water supply, telephone connectivity and banking operations need electricity. The option of deploying vehicle-mounted mobile towers, as requested by Odisha, is being explored to provide connectivity in Puri and Khurda.

More than 2,500 gang men are working in Odisha to restore power lines, sub-stations and Steel Ministry has dispatched about 5,500 steel electric poles and another 15,000 will be supplied by May 14. The Cabinet Secretary directed that more manpower should be mobilised to restore power. He also suggested that mobile service operators need to operationalise their towers in coordination with the State Government.

Ministry of Petroleum informed that majority of petrol and diesel retail outlets are functional and sufficient stocks of diesel and other fuels are available in Odisha. Three mobile dispensers of Diesel of 6,000 liters capacity each are being pressed into service.

The Finance Ministry has directed Insurance companies to settle insurance claims expeditiously. The State Level Banking Committee has been asked to coordinate all banking issues, including functioning of ATMs. Railways have resumed train services on all the lines. The yard at Puri, which  was extensively damaged, will be restored fully by May 12.

The Defence Ministry has moved Diesel Generators to Odisha. Four helicopters of Navy and Indian Coast Guard are engaged in relief operations. Navy and ICG are also running community kitchens for cyclone affected people, according to a PIB release.

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