Odisha to raise contingency fund corpus to Rs 1,900 cr

This is being done to meet expenditure for relief and restoration work in areas hit by cyclone Phailin

The state government has decided to raise the corpus of the Odisha Contingency Fund from Rs 400 crore to Rs 1,900 crore by bringing in an ordinance.

This is being done to meet the expenditure made for relief and restoration work in areas which were hit by cyclone Phailin and floods subsequently.

Since the state assembly is currently not in session, the government decided to bring an ordinance to raise the corpus. The decision was taken in a specially convened cabinet meeting today.

“A sizable amount is required to meet the expenditure on relief, repair and restoration work caused due to the two calamities. The present corpus of the Contingency Fund is found to be inadequate to meet the requirement. Hence, it is imperative in the interest of public service to increase the corpus of the fund from Rs 400 crore to Rs 1,900 crore,” the government said in a press statement.

While the government has the option to draw funds available in State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), it said, these funds could not be utilised for relief, repair and restoration work without making supplementary provision in the budget which would take a long time.

According to a government estimate, about Rs 4,242. 41 crore will be required to build homes and power infrastructure that were affected during Phailin and floods following the strom.

As per the estimate, the state energy department suffered maximum loss to its infrastructure to the tune of Rs 1,048.14 crore. Panchayati Raj department has reported a loss of Rs 755.40 crore to the assets under its disposal while Water Resources department claimed Rs 430 crore worth property damage.

As Phailin cyclone and floods triggered by it damaged 671,000 ha farm land, the agriculture department reported a loss of Rs 385 crore. Similarly, the school mass education department claimed loss of Rs 238.41 crore as 5,825 school building under its jurisdiction were damaged.

The Rural Development department has estimated the losses to its assets at Rs 261 crore and state-run dairy network Omfed reported Rs 216 crore worth property loss. The other departments with significant claims of property loss included horticulture department (Rs 19.5 crore), fisheries department (Rs 19.40 crore) and soil conservation department (Rs 8 crore).