Cyclone Fani: ECI lifts MCC in 11 Odisha districts to take up relief, rescue operations

BHUBANESWAR: The Election Commission of India has approved a proposal of the Odisha government to lift the provision of model code of conduct (MCC) in 11 districts likely to be affected by very severe cyclonic storm Fani.
The move is to facilitate speedy rescue, relief and restoration activities due to the cyclonic storm.
According a letter (a copy of which is with TOI) issued by the office of the chief electoral officer to Odisha chief secretary’s office, MCC has been lifted in Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Gajapati, Ganjam, Khordha, Cuttack and Jajpur districts.
According to IMD sources, Fani has intensified into an extremely severe cyclonic storm is likely to hit Odisha coast between Gopalpur and Chandbali, south of Puri on May 3 afternoon with a wind speed of 175-185 kmph gusting up to 205 kmph.
The proposal to lift the MCC in likely to be affected districts was recommended by a screening committee headed by chief secretary AP Padhi.
Chief minister Naveen Patnaik, who is in New Delhi, also met chief election commissioner Sunil Arora requesting to remove the MCC in coastal districts in view of the cyclonic storm which he argued will help the state authorities to handle the situation in an effective manner and ensure safety of people.
Meanwhile, the Union home ministry has already released an advance of Rs 1086 crore for four states including Rs 340 for Odisha from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) to take up relief and preventive measures in view of the cyclone.
The state government has asked the district collectors of the coastal districts to evacuate people from seaside villages to cyclone relief shelters from May 2.