OST Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Oct 23:

A high-level team representing the Inter-Ministerial Group led by the joint secretary of the Union agriculture ministry Rashmi Goel is expected to visit Odisha in a couple of days to assess the extent of damages in the recent cyclone and floods that hit 17 districts in the state, official sources said.

The Centre has decided to send the team following submission of a memorandum by the state government to the Union Home secretary Anil Goswami during his recent visit, on the losses caused due to the twin calamity and financial assistance required for taking up relief and restoration work.

After his visit to the cyclone ravaged Ganjam district, Goswami had a review meeting at the State Secretariat here on the issue.

Apart from assuring all possible assistance and cooperation to the state, Goswami had also promised to constitute an Inter-Ministerial Committee that will visit Odisha to assess the situation before the release of Central assistance to the state.

It may be mentioned that the state government had requested the Centre to provide Rs 4,242 crore for relief and restoration works in the cyclone and flood-affected districts.