Union Minister Srikant Jena on Monday informed that he met the Prime Minister, Union Home Minister and Finance Minister appraising them about the grave situation in many parts of Odisha due to Phailin and floods and requested them for adequate Central fund provision to the State.
He said that the Union Home Ministry issued a notification declaring that the calamity is of ‘severe nature’ considering its intensity and magnitude, including the severe flooding in north and south Odisha.
Jena said that as per the notification, each MP can contribute up to Rs 50 lakh from the MPlAD fund to help the victims rebuild damaged infrastructure. Jena expressed his gratitude to the Prime Minister on announcement of an interim assistance of Rs 1,000 crore for Odisha for relief and rehabilitation work and an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 each to the seriously injured persons from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund.
Jena said the Department of Public Enterprises also issued a notification, whereby the relief and rehabilitation projects undertaken by Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) in cyclone affected areas during 2013-14 would be treated as the projects in the backward region. Further, the limit of 5-10 per cent of their Annual Budget on CSR and sustainability activities earmarked for natural calamities or disaster was also relaxed and the CPSEs enabling them for higher spending. He told that he had written letters to various Ministries to sensitise CPSEs under their administrative control to voluntarily contribute funds under CSR scheme for rebuilding the infrastructure in Odisha.