Orissa to spend Rs 1208 crore in 45 days

This was decided at a high level meeting chaired by chief secretary B K Patnaik here. Though the Centre had released Rs 154 crore as first instalment from the CRF prior to floods, it would be requested to sanction the second instalment without delay, Patnaik said.

Orissa`s share in the CRF was Rs 411 crore for the year 2011-12 of which only Rs 154 crore had so far been released. Therefore, the Centre had been requested to release second instalment immediately not waiting till December, he said.

Of the Rs 1208 crore earmarked to be spent in 45 days, panchayati raj department required Rs 151 crore followed by Rs 108 crore each by the works department and women and child development department.

Health and family welfare, energy, fisheries, housing and urban development departments would also undertake massive activities in the flood hit areas during the period, the chief secretary said adding that Rs 250 crore would be disbursed to affected farmers as agriculture input subsidy.

The state government also decided to start work on creating mounts and construction of helipads in flood prone areas so that food material could be dumped at the time of need, he said.