Complete Disaster Recovery Project works by 2020

Visakhapatnam: The state government directed the district administration to speed up the Disaster Recovery Project (DRP) works taken up with the help of World Bank funds. After Hudhud cyclone in 2014, with the help of World Bank funds, the state government initiated several works at a cost of Rs 2,220 crore. 

In Visakhapatnam district, works worth Rs 1,450 crore were taken up in August 2015, aimed to be complete by 2020. However, due to various reasons, the works are going on at snail’s pace. Under DRP works, Andhra Pradesh Eastern Power Distribution Company Limited (APEPDCL) taken up underground cabling works in the entire city. 

During Hudhud cyclone, the APEPDCL suffered a huge loss due to severe damage to cables. With this, the APEPDCL started underground cable works with a total length of 250-km at a cost of Rs 720 crore. However, 40-km length of underground cable works were completed so far and 210-km length of works yet to be completed.

The entire beach front faced the brunt of Hudhud. The GVMC and VUDA jointly taken up the beach front beautification and restructuring works.  The reconstruction works at Indira Gandhi Zoological Park (IGZP) and Kambalakonda reserve forest are yet to gather pace. Under the DRP, the forest department proposed to develop eco-tourism park at Kambalakonda reserve forest.

One of the top five attractions of city, Kailasagiri Hill Top Park (KHTP) was also severely damaged in the cyclone. The government proposed to develop the KHTP under the DRP. However, the master plan works are yet to gather speed.

Special Chief Secretary (revenue) Manmohan Singh convened a meeting with key officials of various department on Monday and reviewed the progress of works. During review, Manmohan Singh directed the officials to complete the works in two yeas only.

Collector Pravin Kumar said all the proposed works under the DRP were grounded and informed the works would be completed in the given time.
Chairman and Managing Director, APEPDCL H Y Dora said the underground cable works would be completed by 2020. Chief Conservator of Forest Rahul Pandey said the Kambalakonda eco-tourism park and reconstruction of the IGZP works would be completed in a given time.