CPI(M) State secretary Janardan Pati here on Saturday demanded that the State Government convene an all-party meeting for discussing the recent flood situation in the State and declare it as a national calamity.
While addressing mediapersons here, Pati claimed that the recent cyclone ‘Phailin’ followed by flash floods in the State have been the worst disasters the State has faced so far after the Super Cyclone in 1999.
“Considering the recent damages which have taken place in the State due to the effect of cyclone and flood and the way the relief operation is continuing, we feel the State has failed to tackle the disasters effectively and provide succor to the victims,” said Pati.
“While visiting some of the affected districts, we came to know that several essential materials through Public Distribution System (PDS) had not reached. For instance, at Ranpur, we came to know that against standing quota of 159 kl of kerosene per month, they have so far received only 85 kl kerosene, forget the additional quota of kerosene as relief material of flood affected area,” Pati asserted.
Regarding compensation declared by the State Government towards the crop loss, Pati claimed that the amount declared by the Government is also inadequate. “The recent cyclone and flood has in fact broken the economic back bone of many people in the affected districts and therefore appropriate compensation only can rehabilitate them in proper way,” Pati said.
“We therefore reject the offer of the State Government for Rs 3,600 per acre of crop damage and demand that at least an amount of Rs 12,000 should be paid per acre,” Pati maintained.
“Besides paying compensation, efforts should be made to rehabilitate the farmers by helping them to grow Rabi crops in the ensuing season with the support of free seed, fertilizer and facility of bank loan etc,” Pati said.
Pati informed that a high power delegation of CPM will meet the State Chief Secretary, Special Relief Commissioner and Revenue Secretary October 28 and submit a detail plan for rehabilitation of the affected people of the State. “We will also meet Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik later and discuss with him about the importance of economic rehabilitation of the affected people,” Pati said.