Nine political parties, including BJD and BJP, on Saturday urged the Centre to release Rs5,000 crore for taking up restoration work in the cyclone and subsequent flood-hit areas in the State.
The leaders of the nine parties, BJD, BJP, CPI(M), CPI, Forward Bloc, NCP, Samajwadi Party, BSP and RPI, also suggested that the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) norms be amended to provide optimum benefit to the affected. Consequently, the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) can be changed, they said.
Expressing grave concern over the Central Government’s insensitiveness towards disaster-hit Odisha, representatives of nine parties decided to draw the attention of the President to the issue through the Governor.
The leaders also condemned the Centre for selling kerosene at Rs73 per litre to Odisha during natural disasters. They also reiterated the demand that
Phailin and subseqent flood be declared as national calamity.
CPI (M) State secretary Janardan Pati said the role of the Centre after the post-cyclonic period has been ‘deplorable’.
Notably, the Centre has released Rs1,000 crore as Phailin assistance against the State’s demand of Rs5,832.50 crore.