Berhampur,31st Dec Ganjam district hit hard by natural disasters almost every year.But due to lack of adequate care,the district,particularly the coastal areas in the district had experienced severe damages.However,in 2013 when the cyclone Phailin hit the state and Ganjam district,Odisha govt made effort to tackle natural calamities,which has now become a model state in disaster preparedness and risk mitigation.Even the efforts brought several lurals to the state and is now become a model state in disaster preparedness and risk mitigation.Phailin has badly damaged the houses of 16707 families of 127 villages in the five blocks Khalikote, Chatrapur, Ganjam, Rangeilunda and Chikti, were identified to be rehabilitated with houses through financial aid from the World Bank.Accordingly, the sites for houses were identified at safer places in coastal areas.In 2014,to rehabilitate the families at safer places,houses under Odisha Disaster Recovery Project(ODRP)started.But,lack of required followp the ODRP colonies in Ganjam district remained unused till date.The ODRP colonies were constructed within 5 km from the high tide line(HTL).Under ODRP,while,owner Driven Construction of Houses(ODCH) approach has been adopted,the project was with 70:30 funding from world bank and state govt.A sum of Rs.3,00,000 was provided to each beneficiary for construction of a 294 square feet house,with specifications of One bed room, one drawing-cum-bed room, kitchen and toilet.During the last seven years,15,185 families were provided with houses constructed at ODRP colonies in the five blocks.However, since some of the colonies lack basic amenities such as drainage channels, schools and health centres, many of the ODRP houses remain locked while some have been rented out as the beneficiaries prefer to stay at other places.In the recent past,the district administration inspected colonies and also sealed some of the houses which were either locked or rented out.The sealed houses were later returned to beneficiaries with warning.Apart from the district administration,senior bureaucrats also visited the colonies and directed the district administration to provide necessary amenities in the colonies and ensure that beneficiaries stay in the houses allotted to them.Despite all efforts,the ODRP colonies in the district has several unocupied houses.For instance Sorolo village of Chikiti block.For the families of the village,ODRP colonies were constructed near Panapali village.In the colony 350 houses were constructed,but so far only 25 families resides and the rest houses are locked.The beneficiaries has alleged that despite their repeated appeals,no steps were taken to provide the basic amenities including good road and water.They alleged that while the roads in the colony is full of pot holes,lack of maintanance,shrubs,bushes came up and became the abode of serpants.Added to it no street light is there,which made the residents to remain in their houses before evening hours.While the reason made the residents unsecure,it also made other beneficiaries relunctant to stay in their allotted houses.On the otherhand taking adventage of non-occupancy,criminals using the unused houses.The residents alleged that an Anganwadi centre opened in the colony,but not opened since last march due to covid pandemic.As a result of which around 30 kids deprieved from education.While the toilets are damaged due to sub-standard work,no water provision was made,which virtually compelled the residents to use open feild for defacation.Since the colony mostly remains lonely,it turned into a safe heven for criminals.
