Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government has announced assistance for the flood-affected people in Balasore district.
According to the announcement, Rs 1.2 lakh will be provided for immediate repair of fully damaged pucc house and Rs 6,500 for repair of partially damaged pucca houses. Families with fully-damaged kutcha houses will get financial aid of Rs 8,000 each while those with partially-damaged houses will receive Rs 4,000. The assistance amount for repairing damaged cow sheds is Rs 3,000.
Additionally, families whose houses are fully damaged or submerged in floodwater for more than two days, will be provided Rs 2,500 each for clothing and a similar amount for utensils.
Each affected families will get Rs 37,500 assistance for milching cattle (cows and buffaloes), Rs 4,000 for small livestock (goats, sheep), Rs 32,000 for big livestock (oxen, buffaloes, horses) and Rs 20,000 for donkeys, mules and camels.
Farmers
The government will also provide crop damage assistance of Rs 8,500 per hectare (ha) for non-irrigated areas, Rs 17,000/ha for irrigated areas and Rs 22,500/ha for all seasonal crops. The financial assistance also extended to small and marginal farmers will be provided up to two hectares only.
The farmers will receive a compensation amount of Rs 18,000/ha (minimum Rs 2,200) for sand casting of three inch or more and a similar amount for repair of fish pond and desiltation. The assistance for damage of crop land due to erosion or change in river course is Rs 47,000/ha with a minimum assistance is Rs 5,000/ha each.
Fishermen
Fishermen will Rs 15,000 for fully-damaged boats, Rs 6,000 for partially-damaged boats, Rs 4,000 for fully-damaged nets, Rs 3,000 for partially-damaged nets and Rs 10,000/ha for damaged fish seed farms.
Weavers
Each weaver and person engaged in handicraft will receive Rs 5,000 for damaged tools or replacement of equipment and another Rs 5,000 for material inputs.
Heavy rainfall induced by low pressure on September 15 caused severe flooding in Bhograi, Baliapal, Basta, Jaleswar, and parts of Balasore Sadar blocks. Around 35,654 people across 141 villages are said to have been affected. The flood has damaged at least 130 houses.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi conducted an aerial survey of Balasore on September 18 to review the flood situation.
