CM Enhances Ex-Gratia For Cyclone Titli Victims

Paralakhemundi/Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday announced a hike in the ex-gratia for families of those killed in the very severe cyclonic storm Titli on October 11.

After arriving at Champapur village in Gangabada panchayat in the morning, he said Rs 10 lakh each would be provided to the families of Gajapati landslide victims.

The state government had earlier announced an ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh for each of them.

In the wake of the death of 15 people of Baraghara village in the landslide in the Mahendragiri hill, the Chief Minister directed the district administration to shift the village from the hilltop to the foothills.

On the occasion, the state government also provided land to the people of Baraghara village. The Chief Minister later handed over the land patta to some beneficiaries of Gangabada panchayat.

Speaking on the occasion, Naveen said the state government would adopt the orphan children whose parents have died in the cyclonic storm and take care of their education and make them self-sufficient.

Meanwhile, briefing mediapersons after presiding over a high-level review meeting on the post-cyclone and flood situation at the State Secretariat in Bhubaneswar, chief secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi put the death toll in the cyclonic storm at 52 of which 39 have died in Gajapati, 12 in Ganjam and one in Kandhamal district. “Besides, the government is verifying the death of 10 more persons as reported in the media,” he said.

According to the preliminary report, the extent of damage in the cyclone and subsequent floods has been estimated at Rs 2200 crore (Rs 500 crore – roads, Rs 133 crore – energy sector, Rs 150 crore – houses and Rs 233 crore – crop damage in accordance with the input subsidy provided to the farmers), he said.

Padhi said it woud take a couple of more days to prepare complete damage assessment.

Asked whether the state government will seek central assistance, the chief secretary the state government is trying to compensate for the damage from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). “If there is a shortfall in the SDRF, we will report it to the Centre and seek assistance,” he pointed out.

After touring Gajapati district, the Chief Minister reached Bhanjanagar, where he had a video conferencing with him, he said.

“The Chief Minister directed me to take the necessary steps to provide Biju Pucca Ghar houses to the families whose houses have completely damaged in the cyclonic storm,” the chief secretary added.