Cyclone Fani: Govt approves release of Rs 197 Cr compensation in 1st phase for Puri

Bhubaneswar: The State Revenue and Disaster Management department has approved release of Rs 197.67 crore as first phase compensation for repair and restoration works post cyclone Fani in Puri district.

According to sources, Rs 95,100 will be given as compensation for completely destroyed pucca/ kaccha houses while Rs 5,200 and Rs 3,200 will be given as compensation for partially damaged pucca and kaccha houses respectively. Those who have lost their cowshed will also get Rs 2100.

Affected households will receive the compensation through DBT mode. In the first instalment, compensation of Rs 20,000 for fully damaged houses and Rs 10,000 for severely destroyed houses will be released directly to the bank account of the beneficiaries.

However, for pucca and kaccha houses, the full amount (Rs 5200 and Rs 3200) will be released as compensation at a time.

Official sources said that a total of 2,87,762 households have been affected in Puri during the extremely severe cyclonic storm Fani which pummeled the coastal district and its other adjoining areas after making landfall on Odisha coast on May 3.

At least 9095 kaccha and pucca houses were completely destroyed while more than 1 lakh houses suffered extensive damaged and over 1.5 lakh houses were partially affected in the cyclone.

Meanwhile, Member of National Disaster Management Authority, Kamal Kishore reached Odisha on Monday to assess reconstruction and recovery works undertaken in the cyclone-hit areas. He is also scheduled to hold discussions with the Special Relief Commissioner Bishnupada Sethi in connection with the matter today and take a field visit to Puri tomorrow.