Bhubaneswar: Following weeks of relentless monsoon downpours and a succession of low-pressure systems, including a recent Deep Depression that pounded southern Odisha, the state government on Wednesday announced that floodwaters are receding and relief disbursement are being fast-tracked to reach all affected families before Durga Puja.
Speaking at a press conference in Bhubaneswar after reviewing the situation with district collectors, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) officials, and representatives from the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA), Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari confirmed that 28 of the state’s 30 districts have suffered damage to varying degrees from 12 separate atmospheric disturbances, including five low pressure system, this season. To cushion the impact on hit communities, the government has set a firm deadline to transfer all direct compensation funds into victims’ bank accounts well before the upcoming Durga Puja (Dashahara) festivities.
“District administrations are actively providing cooked meals and dry rations to affected residents. Before the final loss reports were in, we released initial tranches to help districts begin work. Yesterday, an additional ₹20 crore was sanctioned for southern Odisha districts on top of the initial ₹241.37 crore,” the minister said.
District-level breakdowns highlight significant disbursements: Bhadrak received ₹64.54 crore with ₹43.28 crore already utilised, Jajpur was provided ₹52.04 crore with ₹33.80 crore spent, Kendrapada was allocated ₹16.04 crore with ₹11.21 crore disbursed, and Baleshwar received over ₹26 crore with ₹5.94 crore directed toward initial emergency measures. Additionally, targeted funds including ₹5 crore to Nabarangpur, ₹2 crore each to Ganjam and Gajapati, and ₹1 crore to Jharsuguda have been dispatched to address local destruction.
To fast-track remaining disbursements, the Minister instructed district collectors of Gajapati, Ganjam, Koraput, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Malkangiri, Baleshwar, Bhadrak, Jajpur, and Kendrapada to submit final assessment reports swiftly.
Referencing the ₹1,000 crore package announced by Chief Minister Mohan Majhi, Pujari confirmed that farmers and householders, who suffered losses will receive financial and agricultural support. “The package announced by the Chief Minister will cover affected areas across 24 districts, including southern and northern regions. Support will be provided for crop loss, including paddy, maize, and vegetables, as well as house damage. Farmers will be offered assistance according to their preference, including supply of seeds or direct bank transfers,” he stressed.
Moving beyond immediate relief, Minister Pujari emphasised that the government is seeking a permanent solution to recurrent flooding and waterlogging issues in Odisha through permanent, disaster-resilient infrastructure. The state has instituted an October 15 deadline to draft an exhaustive technical blueprint focused on long-term structural solutions, such as river and tributary dredging to remove heavy silt buildup, modernising urban drainage systems, and developing specialised landslide mitigation measures for vulnerable high-altitude regions like Gajapati. High-level review panels, comprising district collectors, Chief Secretary level leadership, Additional Chief Secretaries, Development Commissioners, national disaster management experts, and scientific institutions, will convene ahead of the deadline to formalise these proposals and safeguard vulnerable populations for future seasons.
