BHUBANESWAR: The state government has raised its disaster management funds to Rs 3,200 crore from last year’s Rs 2,000 in the annual budget presented on Tuesday.
For Odisha, which faces cyclones almost every year, this is the highest allocation in disaster management in the last four year. Of the total amount, Rs 1,711 crore will go to the state disaster response fund, Rs 1,000 crore to the national disaster response fund, Rs 428 crore to the state disaster mitigation fund and Rs 43 crore to the national disaster mitigation fund.
Sources in the finance department said the significant jump in the allocation could be attributed to the additional grants of Rs 2,139 crore to the state by the 15th finance commission.
The allocation is designed to increase assistance to the affected people. “A large amount of the money will be spent on building infrastructure such as multi-purpose shelters, training community people, necessary repairs post disasters and strengthening the capacity of mitigation institutions,” a senior government official said.
“As the government is aiming to develop disaster-resilient infrastructure in the state’s power, housing and telecommunication sectors, the allocation will be useful,” the official added.
The state’s geographical location makes it extremely vulnerable to natural disasters and has faced at least 18 major calamities like cyclones, floods and drought in the past 20 years. It has been hit by about 35 per cent of all cyclonic and severe cyclonic storms that crossed the eastern coast of India, causing colossal damage to its public properties.
The state government had received international recognition for its disaster preparedness during cyclones like Phailin (October 2013) and Fani (May 2019).
There are 20 specialized units under the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) equipped with modern facilities for relief and rescue operations. This apart, there are 879 multi-purpose cyclone shelters in different parts of the state.
Meanwhile, adequate funds have been allocated for the road and energy sectors under different ongoing schemes.
The government has allocated Rs 2,272 crore for road development programmes. It includes Rs 500 crore for improving roads and bridges and Rs 100 crore for double laning of state highways under the state highway development programme.
In the energy sector, the state government has allocated Rs 184 crore for setting up of 33/11 kv sub-stations under the Odisha Distribution System Strengthening Project.
Similarly, Rs 200 crore has been given for laying underground cables in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack under the State Capital Region Improvement of Power System.
The state government has not announced any new scheme for these sectors.
For Odisha, which faces cyclones almost every year, this is the highest allocation in disaster management in the last four year. Of the total amount, Rs 1,711 crore will go to the state disaster response fund, Rs 1,000 crore to the national disaster response fund, Rs 428 crore to the state disaster mitigation fund and Rs 43 crore to the national disaster mitigation fund.
Sources in the finance department said the significant jump in the allocation could be attributed to the additional grants of Rs 2,139 crore to the state by the 15th finance commission.
The allocation is designed to increase assistance to the affected people. “A large amount of the money will be spent on building infrastructure such as multi-purpose shelters, training community people, necessary repairs post disasters and strengthening the capacity of mitigation institutions,” a senior government official said.
“As the government is aiming to develop disaster-resilient infrastructure in the state’s power, housing and telecommunication sectors, the allocation will be useful,” the official added.
The state’s geographical location makes it extremely vulnerable to natural disasters and has faced at least 18 major calamities like cyclones, floods and drought in the past 20 years. It has been hit by about 35 per cent of all cyclonic and severe cyclonic storms that crossed the eastern coast of India, causing colossal damage to its public properties.
The state government had received international recognition for its disaster preparedness during cyclones like Phailin (October 2013) and Fani (May 2019).
There are 20 specialized units under the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) equipped with modern facilities for relief and rescue operations. This apart, there are 879 multi-purpose cyclone shelters in different parts of the state.
Meanwhile, adequate funds have been allocated for the road and energy sectors under different ongoing schemes.
The government has allocated Rs 2,272 crore for road development programmes. It includes Rs 500 crore for improving roads and bridges and Rs 100 crore for double laning of state highways under the state highway development programme.
In the energy sector, the state government has allocated Rs 184 crore for setting up of 33/11 kv sub-stations under the Odisha Distribution System Strengthening Project.
Similarly, Rs 200 crore has been given for laying underground cables in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack under the State Capital Region Improvement of Power System.
The state government has not announced any new scheme for these sectors.
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