BHUBANESWAR: The Central team, which visited flood-affected districts of the State, will submit its final report by October 24. Meeting of a high-level committee is expected to be convened shortly thereafter to consider and approve assistance to Orissa. Union Home Minister P Chidambaram informed this to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik who met the former in New Delhi on Saturday. Naveen said the damage in various sectors due to the floods has been estimated at Rs. 3,265 crore and the State Government has already initiated restoration works on a war-footing. He requested the Home Minister to immediately consider releasing Rs. 1,000 crore as advance assistance from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) to enable the State sustain post-flood works. Naveen, who also met Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar on Friday, had also raised the issue of immediate release of the advance assistance to carry on the repair and restoration works in the flood-hit areas of the State. The Chief Minister apprised Chidambaram of the large-scale loss of life and damage to property and public infrastructure due to the two spells of flood in September. Expressing deep concern of the State Government regarding the damage caused in the rural areas and the sufferings of a large number of small and marginal farmers, whose standing crops were destroyed, Naveen underscored the need for the Centre to liberally provide assistance to Orissa. As the restoration works are underway, departments concerned have been asked to ensure expenditure of Rs. 1,298 crore within 45 days. The State Government’s announcement to spend such huge funds in a short period of time has come in for severe criticism from the Opposition Congress and BJP. Both the parties raised questions about proper utilisation of funds.
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