The Union Home Ministry on Monday released an additional financial assistance of Rs 1,000 crore for Odisha, which has been ravaged by cyclone Fani, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi conducted an aerial survey of the affected areas and took stock of the relief measures earlier in the day.
The Centre had sanctioned Rs 381 crore for Odisha last week.The Prime Minister also announced to provide Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia each for thekin of dead in the natural disaster and Rs 50,000 for the injured.
At least 34 people, including 21 from Puri district, have sofar lost their lives on account of the cyclone. Fani hit the coastal state onFriday, causing havoc in several parts of the state.
The National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) led byCabinet Secretary P.K. Sinha met again on Monday as a part of the coordinationefforts and restoration measures in the areas of Odisha affected by thecyclonic storm, said a statement.
The Odisha government informed the NCMC that restoration ofpower and telecommunication infrastructure continued to remain the majorpriority in the cyclone affected areas of the state.
“Around 50 per cent power restoration have beenreported while more works need to be done in Bhubaneswar and Puri. The NEETexamination, which was postponed, will now be held on May 20. Medicinesdispatched by the Centre have been received and all measures are being taken toprevent the outbreak of any disease,” the statement said.
Sinha stressed that restoring power connectivity was thepriority as drinking water supply, telephone connectivity and bankingoperations required electricity.
The option of deploying vehicle-mounted mobile towers, asrequested by Odisha, was being explored to provide connectivity in Puri andKhurda, the statement said.
“More than 2,500 men are working in Odisha to restorepower lines. The Steel Ministry has dispatched about 5,500 steel electric polesand another 15,000 will be supplied by May 14,” it said.
Sinha also said that more manpower should be mobilised torestore power and suggested that mobile service operators needed tooperationalise their towers in coordination with the state government.
The Ministry of Petroleum informed the committee thatmajority of the petrol and diesel retail outlets were functional in Odisha andthat sufficient stocks of diesel and other fuels were available. It also saidthat three mobile diesel dispensers with a capacity of 6,000 litres each werebeing pressed into service.
The Finance Ministry has directed insurance companies tosettle claims expeditiously, as per the statement.