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Advani asks Orissa to prevent starvation deaths

Addressing a drought review meeting at the Raj Bhavan in Bhubaneswar, Advani said that proper governance could tackle the severe drought facing the state and relieve the burden on the poor.

Appreciating the efforts undertaken by the state government so far to tackle the drought situation, Advani, on a day's visit to the state, noted that Orissa has faced many natural calamities like super cyclones, floods and drought over the last 10 years.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik urged Advani to provide an interim central assistance of Rs 100 crore (approximately US $20.62 million) and 200,000 tonnes of rice to tide over the present situation.

He also asked the Centre to waive a sum of Rs 69 crore (US $14.23 million) due from the state on account of relief, rehabilitation, and airdropping operations undertaken by the Indian Air Force during the super cyclone and floods. Advani said the Centre would look into the demands sympathetically.

The state had made a presentation pointing out that crops to the tune of Rs 18.79 billion were damaged in the prolonged dry spell. As many as 283 out of the 314 blocks of the state had been affected by the drought, Advani was told.

According to special relief commissioner, R Balakrishnan, Orissa had submitted a memorandum to the Centre seeking an assistance of Rs 8.7 billion and 12.19 million tonnes of rice.

He said, a central team had earlier visited five drought-affected districts of the state and is expected to submit its report soon.

Balakrishnan said the administration at the rural areas was fully geared up to face the situation. The cause of each death was being enquired into systematically to ensure that no deaths were related to starvation in anyplace.

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