Housing dept staff slog to keep Kolkata's govt flats functional post Amphan

KOLKATA: Even as several parts of the city have been without electricity and water ever since Cyclone Amphan passed, Kolkata’s various government housings have had mostly uninterrupted services thanks to the round-the-clock work of the state housing department.
As angry Kolkatans came out in several parts of the city to set up blockades, protesting against spending 70 hours or more without water and electricity, people living in the state housings in the city and the districts enjoyed a relatively stress-free life. “We mobilized our own teams and automatic saws and water and electricity was mostly restored by Saturday. Cutting and removal of trees are going on in full swing on Sunday as well. We have cleared most housings. Our engineers and officials visited sites from next day of Amphan and mobilized adequate resources,” housing secretary OS Meena, who is leading the team from the front, told TOI on Sunday.
On Sunday, the state Chandrima Bhattacharya along with the housing secretary and senior officials supervised the restoration work at several housing complexes in south and north Kolkata. “We could get good support from residents and our engineers and workers at all housings have been working relentlessly,” Meena said. He and his team visited Regent Park, Lake Gardens, Gariahat, 82 Belgachia, Bidhan Abasan and other government housings on Sunday.
“Actually our manpower in all the housing comprising 30,000 flats in Kolkata and the districts were alerted and mobilized immediately after Amphan had pounded and equipment to clear sites and restore services were supplied accordingly,” Meena said. Mobile generators were used for lifting pumps on the first two days. By Friday, electricity was mostly restored and by Saturday all flats in the government housings had electricity.
KMC officials said the storm had felled more than 5,000 trees and 4,000 electric poles. Power supply was switched off to prevent electrocution, resulting in massive disruptions in most parts of Kolkata. But the government housing complexes were immune to the problems because of the hard work and dedication of the state housing department.