Cyclone scare: Odisha seeks RBI help to ensure relief payments by banks

Collectors of seven districts asked to begin evacuation

In view of the severe cyclonic storm 'Phailin' that is set to hit the coast of south Odisha by Saturday evening, the state government has sought the intervention of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to facilitate government payments towards relief expenditure.

The state government has sounded a high alert in 21 districts that have been identified to be vulnerable to the impending storm.

"Treasuries of all the cyclone prone districts will remain open during the Puja holidays to facilitate processing of bills relating to emergent relief expenditure. You are therefore requested to issue suitable instructions to the agency banks transacting government business to be in preparedness to carry out government payments relating to relief expenditure from October 12-14 and on other holidays, if any, to ensure unhindered flow of funds for relief activities”, U N Behera, additional chief secretary (finance) wrote to the regional director, RBI.

Considering the intensity of the storm, the state government had cancelled Puja holidays for its employees.

Since the treasuries will remain open for facilitating government payments, the finance department has urged the engineer-in-chief (electrical) to ensure uninterrupted power supply to these treasuries as well as the directorate of treasuries.

At a high-level meeting held today under the chairmanship of S N Patro, minister for revenue & disaster management, the collectors of seven districts- Ganjam, Gajapati, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Nayagarh and Khurda have been instructed to start evacuation and ensure 100 per evacuation of people to cyclone, flood shelters and other safe places by today evening. Similar instructions have also been given to the collectors of Bhadrak and Balasore.

The food supplies department has been instructed to place enforcements squads in each district to ensure that essential commodities are not hoarded or over priced by unscrupulous business men, retailers or wholesalers. The minister has warned that any businessman or person found to be involved in such activities will be severely dealt with.

Authorities of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will be mobilized for clearing of highway roads. The government has also sought the cooperation of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to assist in evacuation of people and providing them necessary services at the cyclone shelters.

Separate arrangements have been made for air dropping of relief materials. The Kalinga stadium in the city will be used as the state relief distribution centre.

All necessary health arrangements have been done at community health centres (CHC) and primary health centres (PHC) levels. Mobile health teams with necessary staff have been deployed. All essential medicines have been stored. The medical colleges and district health authorities have been provided contingency funds for purchase of medicines and meeting incidental expenses.