Mandasaru: Biodiversity takes centre stage in Odisha’s silent valley

Photograph: VillageSquare/ Basudev Mahapatra

Forest communities of Mandasaru hills are taking steps to conserve biodiversity in Odisha’s silent valley, even as the world celebrates International Day for Biological Diversity on 22 May

Fani aftermath: Civil society groups play key role in cyclone-ravaged Bhubaneswar

Photograph: Citizen Matters

Cyclone Fani blew in and out of Orissa nearly two weeks back. But relief and rehabilitation of lakhs of affected people in Puri, Cuttack and Bhubaneshwar is yet to pick up pace. Pitching in, mainly in Bhubaneshwar, with the aim of getting local communities involved in the restoration works is Civil Society Responds to Fani (CSRF), an initiative by a group of state-based not-for-profit organisations.

Odisha government must learn from its experiences while dealing with post Fani situation

Photograph: Urban Update/ Basudev Mahapatra

Cyclone Fani made its landfall in the coastal state of Odisha at a wind speed of 175 kmph on May 3, 2019. This was a category 4 storm, which is a notch below the worst level. Odisha government managed to minimize the human loss and evacuated over a million people from 15 Odisha districts to cyclone shelters, including schools and other government buildings. But the post-disaster situation in the cyclone hit areas remain severe

Post Fani, Bhubaneswar Continues To Fight For Electricity & Water

Photograph: The Quint/ Basudev Mahapatra

With thousands of trees uprooted, property damaged, Cyclone Fani has left a trail of destruction in its wake. Life after Fani continues to remain nightmarish for the people of Odisha’s capital city Bhubaneswar, with basic amenities like clean water, electricity and mobile connectivity still not available. A week since the cyclone, residents of Bhubaneswar's Nayapali area are barely managing without these basics.