Cyclone relief: Odisha CM demands Rs 17,000 cr package from Centre

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today demanded a relief package of Rs 17,000 crore from the Centre for the cyclone-ravaged state.

Patnaik sought Rs 10,000 crore for disaster-resilient power infrastructure and Rs 7,000 crore for converting 5 lakh kutcha houses to pucca ones and disaster-resilient telecommunication network, official sources said.

The CM’s demand came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an assistance of Rs 1,000 crore for Odisha. The PM undertook an aerial survey of Pipili, Puri, Konark, Nimapada and Bhubaneswar areas, which were badly hit by the calamity.

Patnaik had yesterday announced relief and financial assistance for those who have been affected by Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm FANI in the state.

As per the announcement, all families covered under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) in extremely severely affected districts of Puri and parts of Khurda will get 50 kg of rice, Rs 2000 and polythene sheets.

Families covered under the NFSA in severely affected areas of Khurda district will receive additional one-month quota of rice, Rs 1000 and polythene sheets.

Similarly, in moderately affected districts of Cuttack, Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur, affected families will receive additional one-month quota of rice and Rs 500.

In all the affected districts, people will receive one month of additional pension and house building assistance as per relief code i.e. Rs 95,100 for fully damaged structures, Rs 5,200 for partially-damaged structures and Rs 3,200 for minor damages.