Centre approves Rs 1023.59 cr aid for Odisha cyclone damages

Bhubaneswar: The Centre has has nodded the release of financial assistance from National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) to Odisha for the damage caused by Cyclone Titli last October.

At a high-level meeting held on Monday in New Delhi, Home Minister Rajnath Singh approved the release of Rs 1023.59 crore to Odisha, a Home Ministry statement said.

According to a Ministry statement, the meeting was held here on Monday to consider the “additional central assistance” to the two states, which were affected by cyclone Titli and floods and landslides in recent months.

The Union Home Minister on Saturday assured Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik of releasing financial aid immediately following a telephonic conversation with the latter. Naveen had urged Singh to do the needful through a letter on Thursday.

The State government has earlier submitted a memorandum to the Centre seeking an assistance of Rs 2023.23 crore from the NDRF against a requirement of Rs 2779.32 crore.

Notably, as many as 70 people were killed after the severe cyclonic storm made a landfall near Palasa in Andhra Pradesh on October 11 and subsequent floods and landslides. According to official data, a whopping 60.31 lakh people in 128 blocks of 17 districts were severely affected in the natural disasters.

Among others, Union Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley, Union Minister for Agriculture, Radha Mohan Singh, Union Home Secretary, Rajiv Gauba and senior officers of the Ministries of Home Affairs, Finance and Agriculture were present in the meeting.