Odisha government on Thursday claimed to have restored normal water supply in all urban areas which were affected by the recent cyclone named Fani.

The concerned department worked round the clock and despite difficulties faced in telecommunication for coordination activities, the water supply was restored, said Mr Sanjay Singh.

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Briefing reporters on cyclone restoration work, he said 214 heavy duty DG sets were deployed to provide an alternative power supply and provide piped water supply. In addition 339 water tankers were engaged to provide water in areas deprived of water. Water supply has been fully restored to Cuttack, Khurda and Jatni he said adding that it had been restored earlier in Puri, Bhubaneswar, and Konark.

Water supply has been restored to pre-cyclone status in Bhubaneswar benefiting 10 lakh people within four days of the cyclone’s impact, he stated.

Meanwhile, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed the Odisha Chief Secretary to furnish a report within six weeks on the alleged hardship being faced by cyclone hit people and failure of government agencies to provide food and water to them.

Taking suo motu cognizance of a media report that relief material is not reaching some parts of Puri and Khurda districts and of alleged baton wielding by cops to disperse hungry cyclone survivors, the rights panel also asked the government to take immediate steps to redress the grievances of the cyclone affected people.

The Commission quoting the media report observed that “It is understood that the state administration, in collaboration with central agencies and NGOs is trying to cope up with the situation but there seems to be a necessity to identify areas which require immediate relief and rehabilitation”.