Rs 216 crore for flood repair work

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik directed officers to prepare a special package for affected farmers in flood hit Orissa. Supply of seed and renovation of lift irrigation points are going to emphasised in the package..

CJ: Dipti Ranjan Kanungo

EVEN AS reports of drinking water scarcity and disease poured in from marooned villages, the state government on Saturday claimed there was access to all village and sporadic outbreaks of gastro-entritis had been brought under control.

The death toll in the current floods was put at 68 by officials here. The total population affected is stated to be over 42 lakh and the government said four lakh people have been evacuated.

Puri continues to be cut off by road from Bhubaneswar. It will take at least one week to repair the damage and open it for vehicular traffic, officers said.

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik directed officers to prepare a special package for the affected farmers. Supply of seed and renovation of lift irrigation points are going to emphasised in the package, official sources said. Over 4.68 lakh hectare of cropped area has been damaged by flood waters.
For the declared 15-day relief, four lakh tonne rice and other items have been distributed at many places.

Official sources said a total of Rs 216 crore had been released to expedite repair and restoration work. The water resources department has been sanctioned Rs 100 crore, while works department and rural development department have been allocated Rs 50 crore and Rs 56 crore respectively.Works department sources said over 3,120 km of roads had been damaged by the floods and at least Rs 340 crore was needed for restoration work.