Odisha Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari chaired a comprehensive high-level meeting at Rajiv Bhawan to review the final damage assessment and status of compensation distribution following this year’s severe flood situation across the state.
Addressing the media after the review meeting, Minister Pujari informed that the state experienced 12 low-pressure systems this season, six of which intensified into depressions. This caused extensive rain and flood damage across nearly 28 districts. Balasore, Bhadrak, and Jajpur emerged as the worst-affected regions, though almost all districts faced varying degrees of damage.
To alleviate the plight of affected populations, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi had previously announced a special assistance package worth ₹1,000 crore. Compensation is being directly provided for damaged agricultural land, standing crops, residential houses, household utensils, fishing boats, and nets.
The Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) has already disbursed ₹288.72 crore towards relief camp operations, house repairs, agricultural input subsidies, and other immediate compensation requirements. While initial directives targeted the completion of financial assistance distribution by October 10, the Minister noted that distribution is already complete across most districts, with strict orders issued to clear all remaining pending payments within the next 72 hours.
In addition to direct beneficiary transfers, essential financial allocations have been made to several state departments—including Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment, Energy, Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water, Water Resources, Housing and Urban Development, and Forest, Environment and Climate Change—to expedite immediate infrastructure repair and restoration activities.
The Minister added that long-term measures and robust urban planning strategies will be implemented to minimize future waterlogging and urban flooding issues caused by prolonged spell heavy rainfall.
The review meeting was attended in person by Additional Chief Secretary of Revenue and Disaster Management Department Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee, Special Relief Commissioner Rajesh Prabhakar Patil, Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Department Secretary Girish S.N., Municipal Director Arindam Dakua, Engineer-in-Chief of Water Resources Department Dileep Rout, and other senior officials. District Collectors and district-level officials participated via video conference.
