Bhubaneswar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday made an aerial visit cyclone-hit Puri and Khurda district of Odisha and reviewed the post disaster relief and restoration work under taken by the state government.
Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik also accompanied the PM during the visit to the affected pockets.
Soon after his return from the affected districts, the PM held a review meeting at Biju Patnaik international airport with the CM Mr Patnaik and senior officials of the state government.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Mr Modi praised the Odisha government’s pre-cyclone and post-cyclone efforts.
“Because of the pro-active efforts of the Naveen Patnaik government, at least 12 lakh people were evacuated to cyclone-shelters. This is not a small feat. Besides, the state government has been able to restore water and power supplies to majority of the affected people. This is quite praiseworthy,” said the PM.
The PM announced Rs 1000 crore special interim assistance for Odisha and assured to release more funds after submission of the complete cyclone damage report by the state government.
He also announced Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia each for the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50 each for the injured persons.
As many as 34 persons have officially been killed in Fani while the unofficial sources said nearly 45 people have died. Puri district reported highest number of 21 deaths.
During the review meeting, CM Naveen Patnaik submitted a memorandum of the Prime Minister urging him to release Rs 17,000 crore — Rs 10 crore for building cyclone-resistant electric infrastructure and Rs 7,000 crore for building five lakh cyclone-resistant pucca houses — in coastal districts.
The chief minister also urged the Prime Minister to take steps for building of cyclone-resistant telecommunication infrastructure in coastal parts of the state.
“Odisha faced three major cyclones in recent years - Phailin in 2013, Hudhud in 2014 and Titli in 2018. Besides, it faced a severe drought in 2015. Hence, the Union government should provide central assistance in 90:10 ratio for different Central-sponsored schemes.
Besides, the Centre must consider the state government’s demand for Special Category State status for Odisha, considering that it always battled natural disasters,” the state government’s memorandum mentioned.
