Power supply has been restored in most of the affected areas under the impact of cyclone Phailin even as relief and restoration work are in full swing.
Out of 112 affected 33/11 kv sub-stations, 111 have been rectified and the remaining one will be restored in a few hours, officials told the Chief Secretary in a review meeting here on Tuesday.
Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy earlier in the day reviewed the situation in the cyclone-affected areas with Chief Secretary P. K. Mohantry and officials at the Camp Office. He appreciated the officers for speedy relief and restoration work and for restoring normalcy in majority of areas.
Out of 2,061 villages where power supply was disrupted due to the cyclone that crossed the coast on Saturday night, power was restored in 1,811 villages. By Wednesday afternoon, all the villages will get power as 1,100 electricity workers have been roped in from neighbouring districts to speed up the restoration work.
With the situation improving in the district, the army has been called back.
The restoration of damaged and blocked roads had also been completed. Supply of safe drinking water was restored in 24 habitations of five mandals where water was contaminated and in six other habitations, water is being supplied through tankers.
In urban areas, except Ichapuram, there was no drinking water problem, officials said.
Water also started receding in Vamsadhara and Bahuda rivers and also from the 7,146 hectares of inundated agricultural land.
The enumeration of crop loss will be completed by Saturday, officials informed the Chief Secretary. Eight scientists from Horticulture University and three specialists from Coconut Board, Bengaluru will study the damage to horticulture plantations and give their recommendations.
The cyclone-affected people, particularly fishermen lodged in cyclone shelters, are being given 10 kg rice each and other essential commodities.
Speaking to media persons at the Secretariat, BC Welfare Minister Basavaraju Saraiah appreciated the Chief Minister for his proactive directions on cyclone preparedness and for rushing Ministers to the districts facing cyclone threat for effective monitoring of rescue and relief operations.
In contrast, the Opposition party leaders sat on fast at Delhi and Hyderabad, he said, without naming Opposition leaders N. Chandrababu Naidu and Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy.
