Expressing dissatisfaction over poor cyclone Phailin assistance, nine political parties including the ruling BJD, on Monday submitted a memorandum to the Governor urging him to ask the Central Government to declare the cyclone a National calamity.
“Besides, to provide proper compensation and rehabilitation and revival of the calamity affected people, the Union Government should undertake major responsibility of rehabilitation and reconstruction work in the cyclone and flood-affected areas and send adequate assistance to the State to the tune of at least Rs 5,000 crore,” said the memorandum.
The leaders of the nine parties, BJD, BJP, CPI(M), CPI, Forward Bloc, NCP, Samajwadi Party, BSP and RPI, also proposed an amendment to the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) norms based on which changes could be made in the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF).
“The Governor assured us to take up the issue with the Union Government for necessary action in this regard,” said BJD general secretary Narendra Swain.
The State Government, in two separate memorandums to the Centre, had demanded Rs 5832.50 crore for assistance from the NDRF. However, the Centre has released only Rs 1,000 crore so far, he said.