Centre approves Rs 815 cr drought aid for Odisha

State had sought Rs 2,199 crore from Union Govt for management of 2015 drought

The central government has approved an assistance of Rs 815 crore for Odisha for drought relief operations.

The state government had submitted a memorandum amounting to Rs 2,199.06 crore to the Government of India for management of Drought-2015.

"The central team had visited the drought affected areas of the state. We had submitted a memorandum to the central government, seeking assistance for undertaking drought relief operations. The state government would submit its final memorandum on drought after the receipt of crop cutting reports which is expected later this month", said Special Relief Commissioner Pradipta K Mohapatra.

As per reports received from the collectors, 1.34 million hectares of crop area has been cumulatively affected in 215 blocks across 26 districts have sustained crop loss of 33 per cent and above.

The fund requirement has been listed under six major heads- agriculture input subsidy (Rs 927.77 crore), conversion of crop loans advanced during Kharif 2015 (Rs 912.66 crore), revival of minor irrigation projects (Rs 52.49 crore), provision of fodder/feed concentrate including water supply and medicines in cattle crops and strengthening of fodder resources (Rs 81 crore), gratuitous relief (Rs 200.35 crore) and emergency drinking water supply (Rs 24.78 crore).