Bhubaneswar, Aug. 3: The Odisha government has estimated preliminary losses of Rs 42.80 crore due to the recent floods that affected 8.63 lakh people across 22 districts, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said on Monday. Alongside the damage assessment, the state has announced additional financial assistance to accelerate relief, rehabilitation and compensation for affected families.
Addressing the media, Pujari said a comprehensive survey has already begun, with departmental officials conducting field-level assessments of damage to houses, agricultural land, livestock and public infrastructure. He informed that Rs 36.98 crore has already been released to District Collectors, while an additional Rs 110 crore will be transferred to the districts to strengthen relief and restoration efforts.
The Minister said the government has earmarked Rs 12.88 crore for compensation related to the loss of livestock and domestic animals, while Rs 26 crore has been sanctioned for the operation of relief centres across the flood-affected districts.
Under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) norms, families whose houses have been fully damaged will receive Rs 1.20 lakh. Assistance of Rs 6,500 will be provided for partially damaged pucca houses, Rs 4,000 for kutcha houses, Rs 8,000 for damaged huts and Rs 3,000 for damaged cattle sheds. Farmers will receive compensation of Rs 8,500 per hectare for rainfed land, Rs 17,000 per hectare for irrigated land and Rs 22,500 per hectare for long-duration or perennial crops.
The government has also announced Rs 4 lakh as ex gratia for loss of human life, along with compensation for the loss of livestock, including cattle, buffaloes, calves, goats and sheep. Additionally, the family of a Fire Services personnel who lost his life due to electrocution during a rehabilitation operation will receive special compensation apart from insurance benefits.
According to the latest official figures, the floods affected 22 districts, 85 blocks, 15 urban local bodies, 656 gram panchayats and 1,458 villages. A total of 8,63,909 people were impacted, while 2,67,301 people were evacuated to safer locations. During the emergency, the government operated 529 relief camps, providing food, shelter and essential services to thousands of displaced residents.
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