The ruling BJD on Tuesday slammed the UPA Government at the Centre for not releasing assistance out of the NDRF to meet the ongoing restoration and relief works in the 18 Phailin and subsequent floods-affected districts.
Raising the issue in the State Assembly, Government Deputy Chief Whip Sanjay Dasburma described the non-release of Central assistance even after a month and half of the calamities as “very unfortunate”. He said that while Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced assistance of `1,000 crore for Uttarakhand and Assam, the Centre has not yet released a single rupee for Odisha. In a Federal structure, the Union Government should discharge its responsibility by releasing the assistance, he said, demanding that the issue be discussed in the House.
He lamented that the PM had announced to visit the State in the wake of the natural calamities but went back on his words. The PM should immediately provide `1,000 crore he had announced, he demanded.