Orissa sought 2,454 cr, gets only 98 cr


Express News Service
First Published : 17 Oct 2008 07:55:00 AM IST
Last Updated : 17 Oct 2008 10:43:30 AM IST

BHUBANESWAR: The step-motherly treatment meted out to Orissa by the Centre became evident from the paltry flood assistance released from the National Calamity Contigency Fund (NCCF).Bihar, Assam and Orissa witnessed floods during the recent past.

While Bihar has got Rs 1,000 crore from the NCCF, Assam received Rs 300 crore. Orissa has been given only Rs 98 crore. What is disheartening is that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had announced assistance of Rs 1,000 crore and Rs 300 for Bihar and Assan while he visited the flood-affected areas of those States.

When Home Minister Shivraj Patil visited the flood-affected areas of Orissa, he had announced an assistance of Rs 500 crore.

This is not the first time the Centre’s announcement of flood relief for Orissa did not match the release of funds. After Manmohan Singh visited the flood-affected areas last time, he had announced an assistance of Rs 200 crore. But the State received only Rs 25 crore. Though Orissa experienced the worst floods in decades this time, the Prime Minister and Congress president Sonia Gandhi did not visit the affected areas. Both, however, visited Bihar. The State Government had submitted a memorandum during Patil’s visit seeking an assistance of Rs 2,454.35 crore.

The Centre is, however, yet to depute a team to assess the damage.