New Delhi: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Tuesday sought central assistance of Rs 5,228 crore for rehabilitation and restoration work following severe cyclone Fani that ravaged the state May 3. The CM also reiterated his earlier demand for according special category status to the state.
According to officials, the Chief Minister apprised the Prime Minister that the loss to public properties and funds required for prompt relief measures have been assessed at about Rs 9,336 crore. However, keeping in view the present State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF)/ National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) norms, Odisha is seeking an assistance of about Rs.5,228 crore from the National Disaster Response Fund immediately in order to meet the expenditure on the ongoing relief and restoration works in the aftermath of cyclone Fani.
Patnaik also urged the Prime Minister to include ‘Natural Calamity’ as an indicator to accord special category status to Odisha. He added that the state should be provided Central assistance on 90:10 sharing pattern for centrally sponsored schemes. He suggested that pending consideration of this request, the states hit by major calamities may be declared as ‘Special Focus States’ and granted benefits of a special category status for a specific period. This will help reconstruction of infrastructure and restoration of livelihoods.
In a meeting at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, the official residence of Prime Minister, Patnaik sought an increase in royalty on coal from 14 per cent to 20 per cent of the sale value and five lakh pucca houses for the people of Odisha.
The Chief Minister also congratulated Narendra Modi for his second term as Prime Minister.
“I congratulated Prime Minister on his election victory. I also requested him for special category status to Odisha. To restore the destruction caused by cyclonic storm Fani, We have demanded Rs 5,228 crore. I also sought an increase in coal royalty and five lakh pucca houses to the people of Odisha,” Naveen said.
In the afternoon, Patnaik met President Ram Nath Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhawan. “I have met President and discussed about the destruction caused by cyclone Fani,” Naveen added.
When asked about the post of Deputy Speaker in the Lok Sabha, Patnaik denied of holding any discussion on the Deputy Speaker post, Ayushman Bharat scheme and upcoming budget.
Earlier, Union health minister Dr Harsh Vardhan had written to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik requesting him to join Ayushmaan Bharat scheme for the benefit of the state people.
It is to be mentioned here that the CM is on a weeklong visit to the national capital. He will attend the meeting of NITI Aayog June 15.
