37 lakh people affected by floods: Pujari

Bhubaneswar: More than 37.43 lakh people in 26 districts of Odisha have so far been affected by the floods this year, while seven people died in the deluge, State minister Suresh Pujari informed the Assembly on Thursday. Replying to a question from BJP legislator Tankadhar Tripathy, the Revenue and Disaster Management Minister said a total of 37,43,943 people have been impacted due to heavy rainfall and floods this year.

Death of seven people and 93 livestock were reported in the affected districts, Pujari said. According to the data provided by the minister, four persons died in Kendujhar, while one death each was reported in Baleshwar, Dhenkanal and Jajpur districts.

Besides, 2.12 lakh hectare of crops and 18,067 houses have been damaged in the floods, Pujari said. In accordance with the guidelines, the Odisha government has released funds totaling Rs 234.84 crore to the affected districts as compensation against damage to personal property, he said.

The Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water department has submitted project proposals worth Rs 478.92 crore for the restoration and repair of public infrastructure, including 3,485 school buildings, 934 community halls, 487 panchayat buildings, and 2,656 anganwadi centres, the minister stated.

Pujari said all the project proposals have been approved, and an initial amount of Rs 136.71 crore released to the department. Funds amounting to Rs 8.2 crore have also been released to the Energy department for restoration and repair, he said. In total, the Odisha government has approved projects worth Rs 492.7 crore of various departments, which reported loss due to the floods, Pujari added.

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