Flood Relief: State seeks Rs 2K crore

BHUBANESWAR: The State Government will seek financial assistance of Rs 2,120.92 crore from the Centre for the recent flood. Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Pradipta Mohapatra told mediapersons here on Wednesday that the State Government has completed preparation of final memorandum, which will be submitted to the Centre on Thursday.Mohapatra said the memorandum has been based on the damage assessment report of collectors of 19 flood-affected districts. Roads, both under the Works and Rural Development departments, have been damaged extensively due to the flood.The State Government has sought assistance of Rs 226.07 crore for the Works department and Rs 363.65 crore for the Rural Development department. Besides, Rs 8.99 crore has been sought for restoring supply of drinking water in rural areas. Similarly, Rs 442.27 crore has been demanded for repair of roads and bridges, community buildings and community tanks under the Panchayati Raj department.However, embankment roads and canal suffered the maximum damage in the flood and the State Government has decided to demand Rs 617.17 crore from the Centre for their repair. The SRC said there were 49 breaches on embankments because of the flood.Assistance sought under the Water Resources department for different heads include: drainage __ Rs 34.3 crore, minor irrigation __ Rs 7.02 crore, CADA canals __ Rs 30.54 crore and lift irrigation __ Rs 39.55 crore.The SRC said the State Government has sought Rs 86.5 crore under the School and Mass Education department for repair of schools damaged in the flood. Besides, Rs 12.3 crore has been demanded under the Health and Family Welfare department for repair of primary health centres, community health centres, instruments and medicines lost in the flood and towards ambulance cost.The memorandum has demanded Rs 15.56 crore for restoration of electricity in flood-affected villages. Besides, Rs 55 crore has been sought for repair of roads and drains under the Housing and Urban Development department. For restoration of water supply in urban areas, Rs 19.5 crore has been demanded.The SRC said for pure relief measures, including input subsidy for farmers and house building assistance, Rs 162.77 crore has been sought. According to latest estimates, 1,16,708 houses were damaged in the flood for which Rs 26.71 crore has been earmarked. Besides, input subsidy for farmers will be Rs 32.35 crore.Mohapatra clarified that there is no shortage of polythene for the flood-affected people, who have taken shelter on embankments and other places.