Other States - Orissa   

Tsunami, quake in relief code

Staff Reporter

Committee submits report, recommends several amendments

BHUBANESWAR: The State government has decided to include tsunami and earthquake in its relief code so as to extend compensation to those who will be affected by the two calamities.

"A committee headed by the Revenue Secretary has submitted its report, which recommended several amendments in the State relief code. The proposal for inclusion of these two calamities in the code will be tabled in the forthcoming meeting of the Cabinet," Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Manmohan Samal said.

Mr. Samal, who presided over the State-level Calamity Committee meeting here on Thursday, said a one-day conference would be organised here on June 11 where experts, top officials and policy makers would discuss on the recommendations prescribed in the report. Based on the recommendations, a memorandum would be placed before the Cabinet for its approval on various amendments, he said.

"There are proposals to hike the grant for house building and compensation to the next of kin of persons who die during calamities," Mr. Samal said.

Pre-monsoon works

With monsoon likely to hit the State by June 10, the meeting resolved that all river embankments should be repaired during the first week of June.

The Minister said that the government was contemplating taking panchayats as unit for extending crop insurance benefits to farmers. "We are estimating as to how much additional funds are required to take panchayats as unit to insure farmers' crop. At present, blocks are considered as unit for crop insurance," he said.

Special Relief Commissioner Nikunja K. Sundaray said: "Before the Central Relief Code came into force, we had our own code. Now both the codes need to be synchronised in order to do away with the inconsistencies."

Efforts would be made to increase compensation for victims in lightning-related deaths and the issue would come up for discussion on June 11 meeting, Mr. Sundaray said.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Now, IGNOU exam centre in Choudwar jail
ECoR all praise for promotee officers
Fake ceiling fans unit raided, one held
Two students commit suicide in Bhanjanagar
Declaration of results: Bismay approaches court
Tsunami, quake in relief code
Budget meet: security tightened
Rajasthan police team extends stay

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu