Bhubaneswar: The Office of the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Sunday announced special financial assistance to those affected by cyclone Titli and lost their livelihood and houses due to the impact of cyclone.
Joint Special Relief Commissioner Pravat Ranjan Mohapatra Sunday announced the quantum of financial assistance for different categories of victims of the cyclonic storm.
The SRC’s office is now mulling to ensure house building assistance of Rs 1,01,900 for families living in hilly areas and Rs 95,100 to those in the plains under the State Disaster Relief Fund. As per the plan partially damaged houses will attract Rs 5,200 for pucca houses assistance and Rs 3200 for kutccha houses.
The office has planned to pay Rs 30,000 for loss of a cow, Rs 25,000 for loss of oxen, Rs 3,000 for loss of a goat or sheep and Rs 50 for loss of each hen. All of these categories have, however, been capped so that the benefits are limited to a particular amount in each category of livestock.
While interacting with the media on the issue, Mohapatra said, “When it comes to energy restoration, two of the most affected districts are Titli-Raygada and Ganjam, where power supplies have now been restored. The work of power restoration in these districts has ended. Some power restoration programme is still pending only in Gajpati district, which was the worst affected district.”
He also said, “The Chief Secretary in a meeting Saturday has directed the Energy Department to restore power in the affected areas by October 23. There were many interior roads which were also affected due to the storm. The Panchayati Raj Department has now been asked to ensure their quick repair. Several beneficiary-based schemes are running in the state. We have written to all the Collectors to look into the issues.”
The SRC has now scheduled a meeting of the Executive Council to look into the issue Monday. The office said that it wants the funds for such schemes to be released to them as soon as possible. “Assistance for construction of damaged houses and recompense of livestock would also be provided to people who were affected by the cyclonic storm in the state. We are in touch with the Collectors and several other officials,” Mohapatra said.