Odisha for long-term solution to calamities
PM undertakes aerial survey of Yaas-hit Odisha, announces `500 cr aid, ex gratia of `2 lakh to the next of kin of deceased
Prime Minister Narendra Modi who on Friday made an aerial survey of the cyclone-hit pockets of Odisha announced an immediate assistance of `500 crore for the state.
The `500 crore is a part of the an overall financial assistance of `1,000 crore. The remaining `500 crore has been announced for West Bengal and Jharkhand to carry out immediate relief activities.
The Centre would release more funds after receiving the cyclone damage assessment reports from the affected states. Sources said the Union government would send an inter-ministerial committee to assess the damage basing on which financial assistance will be released.
The Prime Minister also announced an exgratia of `2 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased and `50,000 to the seriously injured ones in the cyclone.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). Mr Modi undertook an aerial survey of Bhadrak and Balasore districts of Odisha.
Before his survey, the Prime Minister upon his arrival in Bhubaneswar, chaired a review meeting on the relief and rehabilitation measures being undertaken by the state government
He was briefed that maximum damage due to cyclone Yaas happened in Odisha, and some parts of West Bengal and parts of Jharkhand have also been affected.
“The Prime Minister assured the people of Odisha, West Bengal and Jharkhand that the Union government would closely work with the state governments at this difficult time, extend all possible assistance for restoration and rebuilding of the infrastructure in the affected areas,” Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who accompanied the PM during the aerial survey, said.
The Prime Minister said focus should continue more on scientific management of disasters. “As the frequency and impact of cyclonic systems are increasing in the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, communication systems, mitigation efforts and preparedness have to undergo a major change,” the Prime Minister said.
He also spoke about the importance of building trust among people for better cooperation in relief efforts
During the review meeting, Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik put forth the state’s demands of long-term arrangements to face cyclones, Special Relief Commissioner P.K. Jena said.
“The Chief Minister demanded disasterresilient power systems and coastal storm surge protection for uninterrupted power supply even during natural disasters and safety of coasts respectively,” Jena informed.