Central team urged for timely assistance

• Eight-member team leaves for on-the-spot assessment of affected areas
• Rs1,145 crore worth reimbursements relating to relief packages not yet received
• CS to hold meeting with HoDs today on the report to be submitted to the team

The eight-member Central team, deputed to make on-the-spot assessment of crop losses due to recent heavy rains and cyclone Phailin, held a review meeting with State Disaster Management Commission (SDMC) and various heads of departments (HoDs) on Monday. Later the team left for tour of affected-areas in three batches. The eight-member team headed by joint secretary, MHA, Shambhu Singh was apprised of the situation and how the State bore the brunt of several cyclones-Laila, Jal, Thane, Nilam and Phailin that have become a regular phenomenon in the last four years. This was in addition to drought seen in 2011, 2012.

SDMC commissioner C Parthasarathi impressed upon the Central team the immediate need to come to the rescue of the State government in dealing with these natural disasters. He informed that the State was yet to receive about Rs 1,145 crore worth of reimbursements relating to relief packages from the Centre. Unless, New Delhi offered timely assistance, this burden on state exchequer could not be overcome, the IAS officer pointed out. Later, Chief Secretary PK Mohanty also met the team, which asked him to give a detailed report about the loss to even the planning department so that relaxations in norms pertaining to infrastructure could be extended to the affected places. In response, CS had decided to convene a meeting with all HoDs on Tuesday.

HoDs of agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry, panchayat raj, roads & buildings, public health, irrigation, handloom etc. briefed the central delegation about the damages and impact of the natural calamities in various districts.