Indus Valley Times

By Pravakar Sahoo

Bhubaneswar, Aug. 3: The Odisha government on Monday announced an enhanced compensation package for families whose houses were damaged in the recent floods, significantly increasing financial assistance for fully destroyed homes as part of its rehabilitation drive.

Under the revised relief package, households whose pucca or kutcha houses have been completely destroyed will receive Rs 1.20 lakh to rebuild their homes. Families whose huts have been fully damaged will be entitled to Rs 8,000, while Rs 4,000 will be provided for partially damaged kutcha houses.

The state government has also announced compensation for crop losses sustained by farmers. Assistance of Rs 8,500 per hectare will be provided for rain-fed agricultural land, Rs 17,000 per hectare for irrigated land and Rs 22,500 per hectare for damage to perennial and long-duration crops.

As per the existing disaster relief norms, the government will continue to provide Rs 4 lakh as ex gratia to the next of kin of each deceased person. Compensation has also been earmarked for livestock losses, including Rs 37,500 for the death of a cow, Rs 32,000 for a bull or buffalo, Rs 20,000 for a calf and Rs 4,000 for a goat or sheep.

In a special measure, the government announced Rs 1.05 crore in financial assistance for the family of a Fire and Emergency Services personnel who lost his life during flood rescue and relief operations.

Officials of the revenue and disaster management and agriculture departments were directed to complete a comprehensive assessment of losses in the affected districts so that compensation can be disbursed without delay. The enhanced relief package comes as Odisha steps up rehabilitation efforts following floods that affected lakhs of people across several northern and coastal districts.