Distribute Cash, PDS Items To Titli-Hit People Of Gajapati: CM To Officials

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday directed immediate distribution of financial assistance and PDS items to the cyclone-affected people of Gajapati district.

He issued the directive at a high-level review meeting at the State Secretariat here after a briefing by the chief secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi, who returned from the Gajapati district in the evening.

Talking to mediapersons after the meeting, Padhi said the Chief Minister directed immediate disbursement of Rs 1,000 in cash, 50 kg of PDS rice and 2.5 litre of kerosene to each affected family and deposit of Rs 2,000 in their bank account.

It was revealed in the meeting that the situation was improving fast in the affected areas of the district. The district administration has started distribution of polythene sheets to all affected families, whose houses have been damaged. All the affected families in the district will be provided the polythene sheets by Tuesday.

Besides, the Energy department, which restored power connectivity in Paralakhemundi and Kashinagar on Monday evening, has been asked to restore power in all block headquarters by tomorrow and in the remaining areas in the next 2-3 days.

It was also revealed that about 57 lakh people of 114 blocks in 16 districts have been affected by the cyclone and flood while 1.48 lakh hectares of paddy and 65,000 hectares of non-paddy crops have been damaged.

In Ganjam district, the process of providing crop insurance money to the affected farmers has begun.

Apart from Gajapati district, the situation in Ganjam and Rayagada districts has improved.