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Orissa tests cyclone victims' patience

Bibhuti Mishra in Bhubaneswar

Blankets for the cyclone-affected people of Orissa have finally arrived in Bhubaneswar. Only, the winter has since long given way to scorching heat in the state and the mercury is touching 40 degree Celsius!

The blankets, which cost the state government Rs 50 million, may be of no use to the residents of Ersama and Jagjitsingpur, two of the worst affected areas, till the next year.

In the wake of the October 29,1999 super cyclone the Special Relief Commissioner had called for tenders for supply of blankets - a merciless winter was feared.

The tender of Orissa Small-scale Industries Corporation was accepted for supply of 19 lakh blankets. The corporation was paid an advance.

A number of blanket-making units in Delhi, Ludhiana and Punjab sent in samples to the OSIC and orders were placed after the same were checked at the Textile Testing Laboratory, Chowdwar.

In the second week of December 1999, 25 administrative officials and five textile engineers of the OSIC left for Delhi where they stayed at Orissa Bhawan. They were supposed carry out pre-delivery quality checks on the blankets.

However, the samples were this time tested at Panipat's testing laboratory with little or no help from the OSIC officials.

On January 18 the blankets reached Delhi Railway station for forward despatch to Orissa. The manufacturing units were paid 90% of their dues and were promised rest of the amount after the consignment reached Bhubaneswar and went underwent another test.

The blankets have reached Bhubaneswar only this month and are now being shifted to the central relief centre godown at Kalinga Stadium.

The state government has not yet fixed responsibility for the delay. OSIC employees and engineers do not have any credible explanation as to why they did not participate in the quality check in Delhi.

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