Orissa asks Centre to release Rs 1,000 crore as interim relief

"The adhoc assistance of Rs 1,000 crore from the National Disaster Relief Funds (NDRF) will help the state government to expedite relief and restoration activities in the flood affected areas," Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said in a letter to the Union Home Minister P Chidambaram said.

The state government had earlier submitted two memoranda seeking central assistance of Rs 3265 crore for two spells of floods last month.

The state government had also urged the Centre to release the second installment of Rs 154 crore from the State Disaster Relief Fund. It was due in December.

Meanwhile, after reviewing the ongoing relief and restoration work, Patnaik said people in at least seven districts had so far received house damage assistance and officials were asked to disburse the rest by October 15.

This apart, 234 minor breaches on river and canal embankments had so far been repaired and work for 174 major breaches would be taken up soon, an official said adding that 2,500 lift irrigation projects would be repaired within 45 days. "At least 1,000 LI points will be ready within 15 days."

As many as 4,388 tube wells had so far been disinfected after water receded from villages in Mahanadi delta areas and other places.