Odisha CM urges Centre for immediate release of funds for Titli hit areas

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today urged the Centre for immediate release of financial assistance for repair and restoration work of areas affected by cyclonic storm ‘Titli’.

In a letter to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Naveen sought the former’s personal intervention for the financial assistance. He said stated that the “very severe cyclonic storm” in October, followed by flood and landslides, severely affected around 60.31 lakh people in 128 blocks of 17 districts.

He said that a memorandum was sent to the Centre, days after the oceanic storm, seeking an assistance of Rs 2023.13 crore against a requirement of Rs 2779.32 crore.

“An inter-ministerial central team made an on-spot assessment of the damage during the first week of November, 2018. However, we have not received any assistance, so far, from the government of India,” he said in the letter.

The Chief Minister maintained that the State government had taken prompt action to provide required assistance and services in the shortest possible time, following the storm.

 

“An amount of Rs 1,689.13 crore was released for relief and restoration measures, exhausting the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). Hence, assistance from National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) is urgently required for replenishing the SDRF and for undertaking the balance works,” he said.

“I, therefore, seek your personal attention in the matter for immediate release of the central assistance to Odisha for undertaking the repair and restoration works, squaring up the liabilities and smooth management of other disasters,” Patnaik urged Rajnath in the letter.

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