Bhubaneswar: As the Odisha government stepped up preparedness to effectively deal with the impending cyclone Montha, adequate attention is being given to protect paddy and power restoration.
Speaking on the steps being taken by the state government, Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo said the focus should be on ensuring readiness in power as well as agriculture sectors.
The Deputy CM, who holds both Energy and Agriculture portfolios, said that fallen poles and damaged transformers remain the biggest challenges during cyclones.
In order to effectively tackle the problem adequate stocks of poles, transformers, and wires have been positioned across all nine potentially affected districts, he said.
Singh Deo stated that power restoration will be completed within 48 hours, drawing parallels to the swift recovery achieved after Cyclone Dana.
Referring to the farm sector, the Deputy CM said the standing paddy crop, now ready for harvest, faces the twin threat of heavy rainfall and strong winds.
Noting that rain could cause grain discoloration, he said strong winds may also flatten the stalks, leading to premature germination and losses for farmers.
Therefore, district Collectors have been instructed to immediately assess damage due to the cyclone and submit reports to the state government in time. Compensation will be credited directly to farmers’ bank accounts via DBT within seven days, he said.
Singh Deo stressed that the administration is fully prepared to respond swiftly to minimise both infrastructural and agricultural impact.