Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has released Rs 136 crore to flood-hit districts for relief and rehabilitation, while a total of 5,044 damaged houses have been reported so far, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said on Wednesday.
Pujari said the government was continuing relief operations in the affected districts and would release additional funds based on the final assessment of the damage.
“Till now, Rs 136 crore has been released to flood-affected districts in Odisha. We have received complete reports from some districts, while reports from some others are still awaited,” the minister said while speaking to reporters.
He said floodwater had not receded completely from some areas and the government would assess the situation after receiving final reports from all the affected districts.
“In some districts, we have received complete flood reports, while in some districts only partial reports have been received. In some areas, floodwater has not receded yet. Once the final reports are received, funds will be released according to the requirements of the affected districts,” Pujari said.
The minister said Rs 110 crore was released in the first phase for flood-hit districts. Balasore received Rs 22 crore, while Jajpur and Bhadrak were allocated Rs 20 crore each. Sundargarh, Rayagada and Malkangiri received Rs 1 crore each.
The government subsequently released another Rs 26 crore for the affected districts. Bhadrak received an additional Rs 5 crore, Jagatsinghpur Rs 2 crore, Jajpur Rs 5 crore, Cuttack Rs 2 crore, Keonjhar Rs 5 crore, Balasore Rs 5 crore and Mayurbhanj Rs 2 crore.
Pujari said 90.5 quintals of rice, 2,692 quintals of chuda (flattened rice) and 356.3 quintals of jaggery had been utilised or supplied during the relief operations.
The government has also provided 1,729 metric tonnes of animal feed for livestock in flood-affected areas.
As many as 8,708 polythene sheets have been distributed to families whose houses were damaged in the floods, he said.
For rescue and emergency operations, 18 ODRAF teams, seven NDRF teams and 140 Fire Services teams have been deployed in the affected areas.
The minister said the government was also working on a special package for farmers and other affected sectors.
Pujari said he had spoken to officials of the Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment Department on Tuesday and the department’s package was discussed at the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday.
“There is sufficient stock of paddy seeds and we are sending them to the affected districts,” he said.
He added that the Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment Department, Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Department and Co-operation Department were working on a special package for flood-hit districts.
“The package will be announced today or tomorrow,” Pujari said.
On damage to houses, Pujari said the government had received reports of 5,044 damaged houses so far.
However, the district administrations have been instructed to cross-check the figures to ensure that no eligible family is left out of the assessment.
The minister said compensation for damaged houses was being transferred directly to beneficiaries’ bank accounts.
“If anyone has been left out of the assessment of damaged houses, they should approach the nearest RI office, Gram Panchayat office, tehsil or BDO office and report the matter,” he said.
After verification and a fresh survey, eligible beneficiaries would be included and compensation would be paid, Pujari said.
