New Delhi: May 22: Naveen Patnaik demanded more draught assistance from the centre while meeting the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. PM reviewed the drought situation of the state on Saturday. State has received Rs 600.52 crore from centre against the approval of Rs.815 crore. As the state government sought Rs 2345 crore, Naveen urged Modi to approve the balance amount of Rs 1745 crore. The chief Minister said, the state has not received any central aid for sectors like conversion of crop loans, minor irrigation projects, food assistance and drinking water. The Chief Minister said the government gives highest priority to irrigation and allocated more than Rs 7000 crore for improvement of irrigation in Odisha. As Odisha received only Rs.200 crore under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme against the recommendation of Rs 1257 crore from Central Water Commission, the CM urged the centre to release the remaining amount.
