Flood action plan: Orissa to spend Rs1208 crore in 45 days

Seeking an early release of assistance from Calamity Relief Funds (CRF), Orissa government today earmarked spending of Rs1208 crore on reconstruction works in the flood affected areas within next 45 days, official sources said.

This was decided at a high level meeting chaired by the state chief secretary BK Patnaik here. Though the Centre had released Rs154 crore as first instalment from the CRF prior to floods, it would be requested to sanction the second instalment without delay, Patnaik said.

Orissa's share in the CRF was Rs411 crore for the year 2011-12 of which only Rs154 crore had so far been released. Therefore, the Centre had been requested to release second instalment immediately not waiting till December, he said.

Of the Rs1208 crore earmarked to be spent in 45 days, panchayati raj department required Rs151 crore followed by Rs108 crore each by the works department and women and child development department.

Health and family welfare, energy, fisheries, housing and urban development departments would also undertake massive activities in the flood hit areas during the period, the chief secretary said adding that Rs250 crore would be disbursed to affected farmers as agriculture input subsidy.

The state government also decided to start work on creating mounts and construction of helipads in flood prone areas so that food material could be dumped at the time of need, he said.

Besides, the chief secretary said that 25 worst hit blocks would be provided with Rs two crore each for repair and renovation of damaged infrastructure within their limits.

"The state government set an action plan for renovation activities in flood hit areas for next 45 days as per suggestions of the visiting Central team, said special relief commissioner (SRC) PK Mohapatra.

All the 2,000 anganwadi centres which were inundated in the floods also required funds for repair and renovation activities, he said.