New Delhi: The Centre today decided to release additional assistance of Rs 1,023.59 crore to Odisha from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).
As per a release issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, the high level committee chaired by Union Home Minister, Rajnath Singh approved the additional assistance to Odisha which was affected by cyclone Titli and subsequent flood in October. The committee also approved release of Rs 268.63 crore to Tripura from the NDRF.
Among others, Union Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley, Union Minister for Agriculture, Radha Mohan Singh, Union Home Secretary, Rajiv Gauba and senior officers of the Ministries of Home Affairs, Finance and Agriculture were present in the meeting.
It is pertinent to mention that Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had requested the Centre to immediately release financial assistance for repair and restoration work in cyclone Titli-affected areas.
In a letter to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Patnaik had stated that the "very severe cyclonic storm" in October, followed by flood and landslides, severely affected around 60.31 lakh people in 128 blocks of 17 districts.
He had added that a memorandum was sent to the Centre, days after the oceanic storm, seeking an assistance of Rs 2,023.13 crore against a requirement of Rs 2,779.32 crore.