Centre releases `500cr for Odisha

Bhubaneswar: The MHA on Saturday released `500 crore to Odisha Government as advance assistance towards the loss and damage sustained under the impact of Cyclone Amphan. It was done within 24 hours of the announcement by PM Narendra Modi after conducting an aerial survey of the damage.

Hours after PM’s announcement, Odisha gets `500cr AGE CORRESPONDENT BHUBANESWAR, MAY 23

The Odisha government on Saturday gave nod for the resumption of liquor sale in the state by starting home delivery and imposed a 50 per cent ‘special Covid-19 fees’ on maximum retail price of the alcohol. The home delivery of liquor will begin in the state from Sunday (May 24). As per a notification issued by the state excise department, the Odisha government has decided to allow home delivery of liquor from the existing “on” and “off” shops situated in areas other than containment zones and shopping malls by amending the relevant provisions under excise rules, 2017. However, there will be no counter sale of liquor by excise licensees, the notification read.

The additional revenue generated will go towards meeting the expenses being incurred by the state government in the treatment of Covid-19 patients and other related activities.

As per the decision, the home delivery of liquor can be taken up by retailers directly and also through reputed food aggregators, standard technology platforms, delivery service providers etc. acting as retail aggregators.

Excise department has categorically instructed ON/OFF shop licensees to display their phone/mobile/WhatsApp no./email IDs/UPI details for receiving the orders and facilitating digital payments outside their shop.

The district-wise list of on/off shops licensees along with their details will be uploaded on OSBC website (osbc.co.in).

Hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s aerial survey on Friday of extremely severe cyclonic storm Amphan-affected districts in Odisha and announcement of `500 crore advance assistance for the state, the Union home ministry released the assistance amount.

This was informed by special relief commissioner P.K. Jena in a tweet on Saturday. A Central team would soon visit the state to assess the damages caused by the cyclone. Mr Modi praised CM Naveen Patnaik and his team for the effective management of the situation due to Amphan.