Bhubaneswar: Preliminary losses due to the recent floods in Odisha have been estimated at Rs 42.80 crore across 22 districts, affecting 8.63 lakh people, informed Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari.
Briefing the mediapersons, Minister stated that the Odisha government has begun a comprehensive assessment of the damage even as it announced additional financial assistance for the affected districts. Compensation will be disbursed alongside the assessment process.
The Minister further informed that the Departmental officials have started field surveys to assess damage to houses, crops and livestock across the flood-hit areas. The state government has already released Rs 36.98 crore to District Collectors, while an additional Rs 110 crore will be transferred on Monday to support relief and rehabilitation measures. The government has earmarked Rs 12.88 crore towards compensation for the loss of livestock and domestic animals. Another Rs 26 crore has been released for the operation of relief centres across the affected districts.
As per the announcement of Minister, under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) norms, affected families will receive compensation as follows: fully damaged house Rs 1.20 lakh, partially damaged pucca house Rs 6,500, partially damaged kutcha house Rs 4,000, damaged hut Rs 8,000 and damaged cattle shed Rs 3,000.
Farmers will receive compensation based on the type of land affected — rainfed (unirrigated) land Rs 8,500 per hectare, irrigated land Rs 17,000 per hectare and long-duration or perennial crops Rs 22,500 per hectare.
The government will provide Rs 4 lakh for loss of human life, Rs 37,500 for the death of a cow, Rs 32,000 for the death of a bull or buffalo, Rs 20,000 for the death of a calf and Rs 4,000 for the death of a goat or sheep.
The Minister also announced compensation for the family of a Fire Services official who died due to electric shock during a rehabilitation operation. The amount will be given in addition to the insurance coverage as per government norms.
According to the latest official figures given by the Minister, the floods have affected 22 districts, 85 blocks, 15 urban local bodies, 656 gram panchayats and 1,458 villages. A total of 8,63,909 people have been affected, while 2,67,301 people were evacuated to safer places. The government operated 529 relief camps during the flood response.
The Revenue Minister Pujari said the state administration is expediting both the assessment and compensation process to ensure assistance reaches the affected families in a timely manner.
