IAY houses for Orissa flood victims, death toll mounts to 68

Press Trust of India, Sept 27, 2008

Bhubaneswar, Sept 27 (PTI) With nearly 1.5 lakh houses damaged in Orissa flood, the state government today announced plans to provide houses to all those living Below Poverty Line (BPL) under Indira Awas Yojana (IAY) while the death toll today mounted to 68.
"The poor people whose houses are washed away or severely damaged in the flood will be provided houses under IAY," Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said after reviewing the relief and restoration work, adding the government had asked the Centre to sanction at least two lakh IAY houses for the flood victims.

Patnaik said the government would provide houses to the poor people under its own scheme, titled 'Mo Kudia' in case the Centre did not give the special IAY houses.

The state government also announced sand cast subsidy at the rate of Rs 6,000 per hectare. Patnaik said NREGS funds would also be utilised for clearing sand accumulation from agricultural field.

According to Revenue secretary GVV Sarma, the death toll increased to 68 after fresh reports of deaths came from Kendrapara and Jajpur districts.

While highest toll was reported from Cuttack and Kendrapara districts with 15 deaths, eight casulties were reported from Puri district followed by seven in Jajpur, four each from Bhadrak and Kalahandi districts, three each from Angul, Bolangir and Rayagada districts.

Khurda and Jagatsinghpur districts reported two deaths while one person each died in Keonjhar and Sambalpur districts. PTI