“We have received a sanction order of Rs.427.29 crore on March 31. While Rs.150.75 crore has been granted as Phailin assistance which was due to the government, Rs.276.54 crore was given as drought aid,” said Special Relief Commissioner P.K Mohapatra on Monday.
He said the state has only received Rs.297.75 crore Phailin assistance against the announcement of Rs.399.83 crore by the central government.
For drought, the central government has sanctioned Rs.276.54 crore while it had announced Rs.815, he added.
Meanwhile, the delay in releasing central assistance has triggered a political row in the state with three major political parties locking horns each other over the issue. While Congress chief whip Taraprasad Bahinipati accused both ruling Biju Janata Dal and the Bharatiya Janata Party for having a tacit deal to bail out each other ignoring the plight of common people, BJD trained its gun at the BJP-led union government for delay in releasing the remaining fund.
BJD spokesperson Pratap Jena said: “Poll-bound states are getting crores of rupees whereas Odisha is getting precious little. This very is unfortunate. The rest of the amount should be given to the state immediately.”
Senior BJP leader Prithviraj Harichandan however said the centre would sanction the amount in phases subjected to submission of utilisation certificates.
