Odisha seeks Rs 20,000 crore package from the Centre to develop disaster-resilient infrastructure

BHUBANESWAR: The state government on Friday sought a long-term package of around Rs 20,000 crore from the Centre to build disaster-resilient infrastructure in energy, housing and coastal embankment sectors in the state.
The issue was discussed during a meeting of the Central team that is here in the state to assess the damage caused by cyclone Amphan in the four coastal districts.
“We have discussed the issue with the central team and a final memorandum will be submitted in a week,” said special relief commissioner PK Jena.
While around Rs 14,000 crore has been sought for developing disaster resilient power infrastructure, around Rs 4,000 crore for the housing project and around Rs 2000 crore for strengthening coastal embankment to protect seaside villages from tide surge, said official source.
As Odisha with around 480 km of coastline prone to natural disasters especially cyclones like Phailin (2013), HudHud (2014), Titli (2018) and Fani (2019), the state government has planned to develop disaster resilient in infrastructure.
The issue was also discussed during a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief minister Naveen Patnaik, when the PM had recently visited Odisha to take stock of the damages due to cyclone Amphan.
After two-days of field visit, the central team met senior state government officials here to discuss the damages to public and private properties due to the cyclone. The damage is very less as compared to previous damages. The state government has sought Rs 200 crore for Amphan damage from the Centre
Earlier on Friday, the central team, in two groups, visited Paradeep, Kujanga and Ersama of Jagatsinghpur district and Dhamara area of Chandabali block in Bhadrak district to assess the damage. The central team also held meeting with the district administration officials at Jagatsinghpur and Bhadrak.
Though the recent cyclone had made landfall in West Bengal, it had caused damages to thatched houses, power supply infrastructure and rural roads in the coastal districts. The cyclone had also damaged standing crop over one lakh hectares.
Based on their assessment on the ground, the team would submit a report to the Union ministry of home affairs recommending assistance for the state from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).
The central team had on Friday visited Amphan-affected Rajnagar and Mahakalapada areas in Kendrapada and Bhogarai and Baliapal blocks in Balasore district to assess the damage.