Bhubaneswar: October 19: Chief Minister of Odisha requested Government of India for financial assistance towards relief and restoration of damaged infrastructure in cyclone Titli that hit the State on October 11.
Addressing the Prime Minister, CM Naveen Patnaik wrote, ‘As you aware, the State of Odisha has been intensely affected by the Very Severe Cyclonic Storm ‘TITLI’ that made landfall on 11th October’ 2018 at Palasa of Andha Pradesh near Gopalpur of Ganjam district in Odisha. The storm and subsequent floods have caused damage and destruction in 17 districts of Odisha. A non-coastal district namely, Gajapati has been the worst affected. Besides the cyclone and flood, a massive landslide occurred in Mahendragiri hill which completely destroyed one village namely, Baraghara under Gangabada G.P. of Gajapati district. As many as 57 persons lost their lives in different districts and 10 persons are reported missing due to landslides, wall collapse and drowning. About 60.11 lakh people have been affected’.
Chief Minister further informed, ‘Besides the loss of lives, there has been extensive damage to both private and public properties. 57,131 private houses have been damaged and standing crops in about 2.73 lakh hectares of land have suffered extensive damage. The damage to electrical infrastructure in Ganjam and Gajapati districts is immense. Also, extensive damage of roads in rural and urban areas has occurred’.
While seeking financial assistance, Naveen Patnaik said, ‘We have submitted a Preliminary Memorandum to the Government of India estimating the requirement of funds as Rs.2770.28 crores and seeking central assistance of Rs.2014.09 crores from the National Disaster Response Fund over and above the funds available in the State Disaster Response Fund for the year 2018-19’.
Chief Minister requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to consider the grave situation in the state on account of the Very Severe Cyclonic storm TITLI and release an interim assistance of Rs.1000 crore to the state to enable taking up relief and restoration works of immediate nature.
