Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday visited Gangabada gram panchayat in Gajapati district where 15 people died in a landslide caused by heavy rainfall under the impact of cyclone Titli and said the Government will do a vulnerability mapping of hilltop villages and provide shelter homes wherever required.
At least 15 persons wee died in Baraghara village under Gangabada panchayat in a landslide on October 11 hours after cyclone Titli made landfall near Palasa in Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh.
Expressing deep sympathy for bereaved families, Patnaik said, “Never in the history of Odisha had landslides of this scale happened. This is completely a new phenomenon. We will do a vulnerability mapping of hilltop villages and provide shelter homes wherever required.”
Patnaik distributed land rights to ten families who want to shift from the hilltops and directed the officials present to restore electricity and road connectivity on a war footing.
At least 76 families of the village will be rehabilitated under Biju Pucca Ghar Yojana.
Assuring that the Government will provide homestead land and pucca houses and also cover them under food, health and social security schemes, the Chief Minister said new habitations will be declared as villages and all basic facilities like drinking water, Anganwadi centres, schools, community centres and health facilities to be provided.
Children who have lost their parents will be provided education and other support by the State, assured the Chief Minister.
The Chief Minister also announced a hike in the ex-gratia amount for families of deceased from Rs 4 lakh to Rs 10 lakh. The additional Rs 6 lakh will be met from the CMRF (Chief Minister’s Relief Fund).
Later he visited Bhanjanagar and reviewed the restoration work in Ganjam district. He also conducted an aerial survey of flood affected areas in the district for the second time.
A total of 52 persons have lost their lives in the State in cyclone Titli and subsequent flood situation with Gajapati district recording the highest number of 39 casualties.
