Bhubaneswar: The Centre Monday approved the release of Rs 3338.22 crore to Odisha for the people affected by cyclone ‘Fani’, which had claimed 64 lives and left a trail of destruction in over 14 districts in the State on May 3.
The approval for the financial assistance was given at a High Level Committee (HLC) chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
The HLC approved the additional assistance of Rs 3338.22 crore to Odisha from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).
The High Level Committee (HLC) chaired by the Union Home Minister Amit Shah has met in New Delhi on Monday to consider additional central assistance to three States, which were affected by drought (Rabi) of 2018-19, avalanches, hailstorms, landslides and cyclone ‘Fani’ during 2019.
This additional assistance is over and above the funds released by Centre to the States in the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) already placed at the disposal of States. During 2018-19, Centre had released Rs 9,658 crore to all States and during 2019-20, till date Centre has released Rs 6,104 crore to 24 States from SDRF.
In the case of Odisha at the onset of Cyclone ‘Fani’, the Central Government had released Rs 340.87 crore on April 29 from SDRF.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Odisha on May 6 and announced immediate assistance of Rs 1000 crore which was already released in advance. In addition, an ex-gratia sum of Rs 2 lakh were provided to next of the kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to seriously injured in the cyclone from PM’s Relief Fund.
During Cyclone ‘Fani’, Central Government had deployed 71 teams of NDRF, 19 columns of Army, nine Engineering Task Force (ETF), 27 aircraft/helicopters and 16 ships of Armed Forces for relief and rescue operations.
During this massive evacuation drive, more than 15.5 lakhs people were evacuated. Central Government had provided all necessary assistance in restoration of power supply and communication in affected districts, including that of providing necessary stores, gensets, steel poles and skilled manpower.
