Cyclone Fani devastates Hockey WC's beautification projects

BHUBANESWAR: Barely six months ago, Bhubaneswar was cynosure of all eyes thanks to the infrastructure overhaul and beautification projects undertaken by the state government to promote Men’s Hockey World Cup at Kalinga Stadium here from November 28 to December 16 last year. But everything has changed since Friday, when Cyclone Fani battered the Smart City and left it robbed of its beauty.
Major beautification projects, including wall paintings, landscapes, street lighting system and decorative median plants here have been destroyed as Fani-triggered winds blew at a speed of over 150 kmph for several hours. Walls that were decorated with mural paintings ahead of Hockey World Cup have collapsed at many places, including some on the route between Kalinga Stadium- venue of the tournament- and Power House Square. At some places, wall paintings that survived the cyclonic storm have been visually blocked by heaps of garbage and broken branches of trees in front of them.
"I can feel the pain of seeing the city’s devastated look as I was part of the beautification drive during the mega sporting event. I along with several other artistes had painted the walls," said Prasanna Hota, an artist.
Landscapes developed along the Kalinga Stadium have been defaced with broken trees, electric poles and hoardings that are lying scattered since Friday. Plants on road medians have also been destroyed and tilted towards the roads, posing threat to motorists. Cycle tracks and footpaths that were developed in the run-up to the Hockey World Cup too bore the brunt of Fani. The Bhubaneswar municipal corporation said they would assess the extent of damage only after completing the restoration work of public utility systems.
The sports and youth services department on Tuesday took stock of the damage to the infrastructure at Kalinga Stadium ahead of the FIH (International Hockey Federation) Series Final, scheduled from June 6 to 15. “We took stock of the stadium and came across minor damage at some places. The damage can be repaired by the end of this month. We are working relentlessly to restore the functioning of the stadium,” sports secretary Vishal Kumar Dev said, adding “The hockey turf has suffered tear at a few isolated placed. The experts from Hockey India will arrive in the city shortly to inspect the condition of the stadium and turf ahead of the FIH Series Final matches.” Teams from India, Japan, Mexico, Poland, Russia, South Africa, USA and Uzbekistan are scheduled participate in the ensuing sporting event at Kalinga Stadium.