Orissa demands Rs 2,257 cr relief fund from Centre

The Orissa government today asked the Centre to sanction Rs 2,257 crore relief fund to the state because it was ravaged by drought and floods last year.

The Orissa government on Wednesday asked the Centre to sanction Rs 2,257 crore relief fund to the state because it was ravaged by drought and floods last year.

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"We have demanded sanction of Rs 2,257 crore from the National Calamity Contingency Fund (NCCF) to tackle the situation due to severe drought and floods in Orissa during 2009-10," Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik told reporters after a meeting with Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar.

Patnaik also demanded the release of Rs 500 crore from NCCF for relief and rehabilitation of flood victims of 2008.

Additional allotment of rice under Antodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) for 25,000 households in Kandhamal district was another demand made by Patnaik.

Under the scheme, the government provides 35 kilograms of foodgrains to destitute households at subsidised rates. Wheat is made available at Rs 2 per kilogram and rice at Rs 3 per kilogram.