New Delhi: The Centre Monday approved additional assistance of Rs 1023.59 crore from National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) to Odisha which was severely affected by the cyclone Titli in October this year.
The additional assistance was approved by a high level committee chaired by the Union home minister Rajnath Singh here.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had written a letter to Rajnath Singh December 13, seeking immediate release of Central assistance to the state in view of the devastation caused by the natural calamity.
Patnaik said Titli and the subsequent flood and landslides severely affected 60.31 lakh people in 128 blocks across 17 districts.
The CM had also spoken to Rajnath Singh Saturday over phone. After the talk, the Chief Minister’s Office issued a release saying that Singh has assured the Chief Minister to release the assistance immediately.
The state government had earlier submitted a memorandum to the Centre seeking an aid of Rs 2,023.13 crore against total requirement of Rs 2,779.32 crore for relief and restoration work.
Patnaik had also written to the Prime Minister October 18 urging him to release an interim assistance of Rs 1,000 crore pending a final decision of the High Level Committee headed by Rajnath Singh.
Union finance minister Arun Jaitley, minister for agriculture Radha Mohan Singh, home secretary Rajiv Gauba and senior officers of the ministries of home affairs, finance and agriculture were present at the meeting. Along with Odisha, the Centre also approved Rs268.63 crore to Tripura.