Bhubaneswar: Cyclone Fani caused large scale destruction at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (ICAR-CIFA)’s Kausalyaganga campus in Bhubaneswar. Around 3,000 trees in the campus were completely destroyed by the storm.
The damage to infrastructure is equally huge. Electricity poles were uprooted and buildings including some laboratories were damaged. Electricity supply lines to the campus were also destroyed.
Around 180 electricity poles inside the campus were completely damaged leading to the shutting down of labs, power and water supply. The centre’s office and laboratories are now functioning using a small diesel generator.
Genetic stocks of fish and prawns, ornamental fish varieties and other important fish species, chemicals and biological specimens were also lost in the storm. Many books of the institute’s library were also damaged.
The staff quarters and hatcheries of fishes and prawns were damaged by the falling trees and electricity poles. A massive restoration drive is now required to restore the infrastructure.
Dr Bindu R. Pillai, Director, ICAR-CIFA, said the loss due to Fani has been estimated at around Rs 10 crore. If power supply is not restored immediately the loss is likely to increase, she added.