Odisha gets Rs 815 cr drought assistance

BHUBANESWAR/NEW DELHI: The Union government on Wednesday approved Rs 815 crore as drought assistance from the National Disaster Relief Fund (NDRF) to Odisha.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh chaired a meeting of the High-Level Committee (HLC) in New Delhi for central assistance to states affected by drought.

The Odisha government had demanded Rs 2199 core from centre to mitigate drought situation in the state.

The committee examined the proposals based on the report of the Central Team which visited the affected states by severe drought.

The HLC approved the assistance from the National Disaster Relief Fund (NDRF) in respect of Andhra Pradesh to the tune of Rs 433.77 crore, Rs 815 crore for Odisha and Rs 1304.52 crore for Uttar Pradesh.

The HLC has deferred the decision in the case of Telangana to the next week.