PROPOSAL ON LIVELIHOOD SUPPORT PROGRAMME FOR CYCLONE VICTIMS IN GANJAM DISTRICT OF ODISHA Introduction: The Cyclone Phailin which hit Gopalpur on 12th of October evening left a trail of destruction along India's east coast. The very severe cyclonic storm, Phailin started with heavy rain and wind speed of 100-150. The people of Gopalpur could experience the landfall of cyclonic storm as the houses were shaken during landfall. The storm continuously hit Gopalpur and its suburbs from 11.00 PM-2.30AM causing huge devastation to electricity, communication, livelihood mainly of fisher folk communities and the environment. Majority of the people who were inside the Pucca (roofed) houses became sleepless out of trauma and fear. Phailin Cyclone hit and crossed through having velocity of 200 to 210 kmph. The situation was worst as the storm hit during the night. 873,000 people moved before the cyclone made landfall, while at least another 100,000 were evacuated further south in the state of Andhra Pradesh. Some 600,000 people were left homeless after the ferocious storm swept through 14,000 villages mainly in coastal districts especially Ganjam district in Odisha and Srikakulum district in Andhra Pradesh. Following the Phailin storm, incessant rain in the district due to low pressure in the Bay of Bengal made the situation more worse. All the major rivers were running above the danger level for three days and flood affected thousand and thousand acres of agricultural land which shattered the backbone of the farmers. In Ganjam district only, more than 200,000 houses and 200,000 hectares of agricultural was damaged, making it the state’s worst casualty of the storm. A satellite image of cyclonic storm 'Phailin'. (The weather Channel) Tracking of the Very Severe Cyclonic Storm “PHAILIN” Date Time Watch Observation 08.10.2013 8.30 AM Tracking of PHALIN started: IMD indicated about depression, at 1450 km east-southeast of Paradip 08.10.2013 11.30 AM Depression, about 1350 km east-southeast of Paradip 08.10.2013 5.30 PM Depression, about 1250 km east-southeast of Paradip 09.10.2013 5.30 AM Depression, about 1100 km east-southeas 9.10.2013 5.30 AM Depression, about 1100 km east-southeast of Paradip 09.10.2013 5.30 PM Deep depression became cyclonic Storm ”PHAILIN, about 950 km south-east of Paradip 10.10.2013 8.30 AM Intensified into severe cyclonic storm ”PHAILIN - at 820 km south-east of Paradip coast 10.10.2013 11.30 AM 800KM south-east from Paradip coast 10.10.2013 8.30 PM Intensified into very severe cyclonic storm ”PHAILIN 650 km south-east of Paradip coast & 700 km from Gopalpur 11.10.2013 5.30 AM 520 km south south-east of Paradip coast & 530 km south-east of Gopalpur 11.10.2013 11.30 AM 500 km south south-east of Paradip coast & 490 km south-east of Gopalpur 11.10.2013 5.30pm 400 KM south south-east of Paradip coast & 400 km south-east of Gopalpur 11.10.2013 11.30PM 375 km south south-east of Paradip coast & 345 km south-east of Gopalpur 12.10.2013 2.30AM 355 km south south-east of Paradip coast & 320 km south-east of Gopalpur 12.10.2013 8.30 AM 200 km south-east of Gopalpur & 280 km from south south-east of Paradip coast 12.10.2013 11.30 AM 150 km south-east of Gopalpur & 260 km from south south-east of Paradip coast 12.10.2013 2.30PM 90 km south-east of Gopalpur 12.10.2013 8.30PM LANDFALL PROCESS STATRED 12.10.2013 8.30 PM to 9.30 PM LANDFALL NEAR GOPALPUR WITH WIND SPEED OF 200-220 KMPH Source : IMO ,Bhubaneswar Occurrence & Intensity According to IMD’s classification, the cyclonic storm which crossed Odisha coast near Gopalpur in the evening of 12th October 2013 is a very severe cyclonic storm. The intensity of the cyclone can be better represented by the maximum sustained wind speed experienced due to the cyclone. The wind data (Speed) received from IMD during cyclone is mentioned below The wind data (Speed) received from IMD during cyclone is mentioned below. Sl Places Date Velocity of wind in kmph 1 Gopalpur 12.10.2013 214 kmph 2 Puri 12.10.2013 223 kmph 3 Paradeep 12.10.2013 121 kmph 4 Bhubaneswa 12.10.2013 112 kmph 5 Chandbali 12.10.2013 112 kmph 6 Balasore 12.10.2013 84 kmph Rainfall Due to the effect of cyclonic storm the State faced torrential rainfall from 9 th to 14 th October 2013. The Cumulative amount of rain fall during this spell was as high as 241.1 mm in Ganjam district. In order to understand the severity of cyclone situation, status of the people as well as the response from the Government and other agencies, CoSA commissioned a Phailin impact study on 13th of October 2013 and the study team members were sent to different coastal villages of Odisha. An impact study format was immediately developed to map the damages caused by the Phailin and Flood. Village youth and volunteers were engaged to collect information. The team members visited 248 villages (123 phailin affected and 125 flood affected villages), discussed with the community members, PRI representatives, government official, civil society groups, PO,WO etc about the Phailin impact and the response from the Government. Visit Period : 13th October to 16th October, 2013 and 25th October,2013 Date Block Villages 13-10-2013 Rangaillunda Gopalpur, Indrakhi, Tulu,Keluapalli, Aryapalli 14-10-2013 Rangailunda Bauxipalli, Digipur,Venketraipur, Newbauxipalli, Gopalpur NAC 15-10-2013 Chhatrpur/Ganjam Kalipalli, Bandar, Katur, Haripur, Sanaaryapalli. Podampetta 16-10-2013 Chikiti Katur, Rameyapatna, Sunapur, Dankur village under Icchapur block in Srikakulum district 25-10-2013 Chikiti Rameyapatna,sonapur Rangailunda Indrakhi,Tulu,Keluapalli Chhatrapur Bauxipalli The team met and discussed with the affected community members, PRI representatives, village leaders, Youth groups, children, Women groups, Government officials, school teachers, MNGO representatives and member of Traditional marine and river fisherfolk etc. The team also met the members of Indian Red Cross at Haripur in Chatrapur Block and discussed about the situation in the affected villages. During the field visit interaction was made with the following people to understand situation During the field visit interaction was made with the following people to understand situation Sl Name of the person Place and Date 1 K.Jayaraju Venkairao New Bauxipalli, 13-10-13 2 D.Padmanavam, Sarapanch, Bauxiplli GP in Rangailunda New Bauxipalli, 13-10-13 Block 3 E Sudarshan Vanketraipur-13-10-13 4 Mr.Jayasen Sahu-PS member New Bauxipalli, 13-10-13 5 Mr.Hari Krushna Choudhury- Teacher, Primary School Digeipur, 14-10-13 6 A Satyam, Village President, Deigipur Deigipur-14-1013 7 Mr.Ali Patnaik, Presdent,CPI state unit Berhampur -14-10-13 8 P.Krishna –NSS Volunteer Gopalpur-14-10-13 9 Er.Ramchandra Mishra NAC office, Gopalpur,15-10-13 Executive Officer, Gopalpur NAC 10 Ch.Babaji, President,Upakula Surakhya Samiti Podampetta,15-10-13 11 P.Bhogiraju,J. Secretary-Odisha Traditional Marine Rameya Patna-16-10-13 Fisherfolk Trade Union 12 Mr.Anam Nayak,School Techer, RAMEYAPATNA Rameyapatna School-16-1013 13 Rangelunda Block Chairperson Keluapalli Panchyat Office,25-10-13 14 Rajarao,Rameyapatna Remeyapatna village 25-10-2013 15 District Collector office, met with officials engaged in 25-10-2013 the relief coordination work Major Observation during 13th -16th of October,2013 - Road Communication has been cut off to some places and trees are uprooted on the roads due to incessant rain followed by phailin - People have started moving from cyclone shelters to their homes - Government relief had not reached as of 16th September 2013 - Very old and big trees and the trees which was providing livelihood support to thousand of people in the coastal areas were uprooted. Maximum tree damage was noticed in Rangailunda block and in Chikiti - Thatched houses in coastal villages are being badly damaged. In some asbestos houses, the roof is damaged - The belongings of the people like coking materials, sleeping materials, clothes, etc have been lost in the cyclone - Electricity has been out of order and people are in dark as kerosene or candle are not available in the village - Some People are staying in the relatives house as the houses are completely damaged - The children study materials have been destroyed in the cyclone - Safe drinking water is not available in the villages - 12 houses have been submerged in the sea in Podampeta village and 140 fisherfolk were affected. 150 nets were lost and 50 boats have been damaged - Lot of horticulture crops like coconut, kewda, cashew etc have been destroyed in Chhatrapur and Rangailunda Block. - Agriculture is also affected in the villages we visited and though no boat was found missing ,but it has been broken and all the nets are damaged - Due to lack of light and books children have stopped study and are psychologically depressed - The livestock in the village are also affected Observation on 25th October,2013 o Some NGOs have started distributing tarpaulin in the affected areas. We also noticed duplicity in the distribution of relief in villages under Rangailunda Block. o Government has provided food relief and tarpaulin to the victims- 50 kg rice Rs.500 and 4 liter kerosene o Children are the worst sufferers in this disaster and their clothes and study materials have been badly destroyed. o The livelihood of nearly 80 percent of the people in the villages we visited destroyed. Those dependent on agriculture and kewda cultivation, horticulture etc are depressed a lot as they do not understand what they will do next.