Odisha seeks Rs.777 crore cyclone assistance

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government Wednesday submitted a memorandum to the central government seeking financial assistance of Rs.777.12 crore for restoration and rehabilitation work in 15 districts affected by cyclone 'Hudhud'.

The total loss due to the cyclonic storm that hit the state in October this year has been estimated at Rs.4,949.39 crore, including Rs.4,212 crore in damage to public properties.

"The state government has submitted a memorandum to the union home ministry seeking an assistance of Rs.777.12 crore for restoration and rehabilitation work in the cyclone affected districts," said Special Relief Commissioner Pradipta Mohapatra.

Earlier, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had requested the Centre to release interim assistance of Rs.500 crore from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), said Mohapatra.

However, the Centre is yet to release the money.

The government's assessment report says that 9,657 villages and 33.44 lakh people have been affected by 'Hudhud', while 2.48 lakh hectares of crop land has been damaged by the cyclone with estimated losses of Rs.582.07 crore.

The government has assessed that 44,413 houses, including 43,876 kutcha houses, have been severely and partially damaged in the cyclonic storm.

While three people died in the cyclone, 670 animals also perished.