Odisha Gets 3rd Highest Allocation Under Disaster Response Fund

New Delhi: Odisha received Rs 707.6 crore as Centre released Rs.7,532 crore to 22 states under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) on Wednesday.

Maharashtra received the highest allocation of Rs 1,420 crore followed by Uttar Pradesh (Rs 812 crore), Odisha (Rs 707 crore), Bhihar (Rs 624 crore) and Gujarat (Rs 584 crore). Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, which have been battered by heavy rains and floods, have been given Rs 180 crore and Rs 413 crore, respectively.

The amount has been released as per the recommendations of the Union Home Ministry without waiting for the utilisation certificate of the amount provided to the states in the last financial year in view of the heavy rains across the country, an official release said.

As per guidelines, funds are released on receipt of utilisation certificate of the amount released in the earlier instalment and receipt of a report from the state government on the activities undertaken from SDRF. However, in view of the urgency, these requirements were waived while releasing the funds this time, it added.