10 more days flood relief for BPL families

BHUBANESWAR: The State Government has announced relief for 10 more days for below poverty line (BPL) families in the flood- affected areas. This will cover 7 lakh families in 21 districts.The decision was taken at a high-level meeting presided over by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at the Secretariat on Tuesday to review the post-flood reconstruction and restoration measures. The announcement of the State Government has come after the Orissa Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) launched its relief operations in the affected areas.The Chief Minister directed the officials to expedite the reconstruction of projects and payment of compensation to the affected families. In the first phase of flood, 19 districts were affected. Official sources said that payment of house building assistance had been completed in 17 districts.Similarly, 10 districts were affected in the second phase flood. Payment of house building assistance has been completed in five districts.The district collectors have been asked to assess crop damage by October 31. The Chief Minister has directed the district collectors to start payment of input subsidy to the affected farmers in the flood-hit districts between November 1 and 15. Kharif crop had suffered extensive damage in the two phases of floods in September.The State Government has decided to give compensation for crop damage to actual farmers instead of landowners. The Chief Minister has asked the collectors to identify the actual farmers for payment of input subsidy which will help them for rabi crop.Chief Secretary Bijay Kumar Patnaik, development commissioner RN Senapati, principal secretary in the Finance Department Jugal Kishore Mohapatra, home secretary Madhu Sudan Padhi, special relief commissioner (SRC) Pradip Kumar Mohapatra and senior officials were present.