Cyclone Titli: Odisha government announces financial assistance of Rs 2,770 crore to victims

The Odisha government on Monday announced a relief package of Rs 2,770 crore for districts hit by Cylone Titli and the subsequent floods earlier this month, an official said.

The distribution of funds was announced by Special Relief Commissioner Bishnupada Sethi after a high-level State Disaster Management Authority meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi was held at the State Secretariat.

“The meeting discussed issues relating to the cyclone and the flood situation. We also discussed on various natural disaster management programmes undertaken in the State,” said Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Bishnupada Sethi Sethi.

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According to official, a financial assistance of Rs 375 crore will be provided to people and areas affected in the recent natural calamities.

“A sum of Rs 375 crore has been earmarked for worst-affected Ganjam, Gajapati and Rayagada districts,” said Sethi.

The collectors of the worst-affected districts have been asked to provide the first instalments of gratuitous relief to the people, of which Rs 102 crore has already sanctioned, whereas the remaining will be transferred to bank accounts of the affected victims, Sethi said.

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The state government has sanctioned Rs 27 crore for the Energy Department to undertake restoration activities, and Rs 20 crore has been given to Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Department towards relief materials, Sethi said.

Meanwhile, Rs 7 crore has been earmarked for Water Resources department, while Rs 50 crore and Rs 55 crore has been allotted for Works department and restoration works by Village R&D department respectively, the official said.

Sethi also said the BJD government will also focus on the four adjoining districts like Boudh, Nayagarh, Dhenkanal and Kandhamal, hit by the cyclone and flood.

(With inputs from agencies)