Orissa begins reconstruction work in flood hit areas

Bhubaneswar,Sep 26 (UNI) As flood waters started receding in many areas making most of the affected villages approachable, the Orissa government decided to undertake the reconstruction work on a war footing.

The state government has released Rs 216 crore from its contingency fund and allotted Rs 100 crores to Water Resource Department, Rs 60 crores to Works Department and Rs 56 crore to the Rural development department to undertake the rehabilitation and reconstruction work.

A high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik also decided to come out with a new agricultural package for the farmers affected in flood. Crop over 4.68 lakh hectares had been damaged in the flood, according to a preliminary assessment by the Agriculture Department.

Meanwhile, official sources today claimed that the administration could able to reach all the villages although 1.3 lakh people were still marooned.

The flood in the Mahanadi river system caused by a deep depression had affected over 41.32 lakh population in 18 districts and claimed 61 lives so far.

The flood, described as unprecedented in the recent past, had breached roads at 2115 places and 459 embakments.The work in the Bhubaneswar- Puri road is under progress and officials said it would take another week to restore the communication by road between the capital city and holy city.

According to Works Secretary S.Ray nearly 3120 kms road had been affected in the flood and about Rs 240 crore would be needed to bring back the roads to pre-flood situation.

The state government has decided to provide relief in the flood affected areas for another fifteen days.

UNI DP KK AB 1942