BHUBANESWAR: The State Government has decided to demand a lakh Indira Awas Yojana (IAY) houses from the Centre to compensate those whose houses were damaged or completely washed away in the floods. A decision to this effect was taken at a high-level meeting presided over by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik here on Saturday. Though the flood situation has improved with water level in the Mahanadi river system receding, the deluge has affected 20 lakh people in 19 districts. According to preliminary estimates, more than one lakh houses had been damaged or completely washed away in the flood. The Government has decided to seek special assistance from the Centre keeping in view the distress conditions of the affected people. Besides, the Government has also decided to request the Centre to provide 2,000 quintals of ‘moong’, another 2,000 quintals of ‘biri’, 1.5 lakh quintals of groundnut seeds, 700 quintals of mustard and 200 quintals of sunflower seeds to the farmers in the flood-affected district free of cost for the rabi crop. Fresh flood in the Baitarani, which has affected Bhadrak and Jajpur districts, was discussed at the meeting. The Chief Minister directed the officials to vaccinate all the cattle and other animals in the affected areas. Besides, he asked the officials to provide 300 tonne cattle feed every day for the flood-hit areas. Naveen said supply of food materials to the affected areas should be ensured. Besides, a close watch should also be kept on the public distribution system (PDS) and prices of essential commodities. Chief Secretary Bijay Kumar Patnaik and other senior officials were present.
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