Govt seeks flood damage assessment report from Collectors

Odisha government has asked the Collectors of nine districts to submit a report on damage caused due to the recent heavy rainfall that triggered flash flood in several parts of the state, an official said on Sunday.

Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Bishnupada Sethi has asked the Collectors of the affected districts to submit detailed reports on the damage to public properties caused by the recent floods and heavy rainfall by August 17, the official said.

There are reports of extensive damage to public properties in the districts of Bolangir, Gajapati, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangur, Rayagada and Sambalpur due to heavy rainfall that lashed Odisha in the last week of July and first week of August.

The assessment of damage to houses, animal, husbandry, fish pond, damage to crop and loss to handloom and handicraft artisans and enumeration of beneficiaries has to be taken up on priority so that assistance as per the norms of SDRF and NDRF can be paid to affected persons expeditiously, the SRC said in a letter to the concerned collectors on Saturday.

For assessment of damage, a squad approach must be followed to assess the damage and adequate number of teams comprising members from different departments may be formed, the SRC said.

While covering an affected village, the teams should assess and enumerate beneficiaries in all sectors simultaneously, he said adding the supervising officers will conduct test checks.

Photographic evidence of the beneficiary concerned along with the damaged houses at the background is mandatory, while photographs of other damages may be taken and stored for record, the letter said.

Different departments like agriculture, health, school and mass education and women and child development were also asked to submit assessment reports on damage to public infrastructure.

Since the money will be transferred to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries online, the bank details of the eligible beneficiaries must be collected at the time of assessment, the letters said.