More funds for Orissa will be considered: PM

By N. Ramdas

BHUBANESWAR, JULY 29. The Prime Minister , Mr.Atal Behari Vajpayee, today said here that the Centre would consider providing additional financial assistance that may be required by the Orissa Government after the submission of a detailed memorandum by the State Government. In the meantime, the Ministries of Power, Transport and Urban Development would take steps to assist the State Government in restoring power and transportation utilities and in providing soft loans through the HUDCO for rebuilding houses of those above the poverty line, Mr. Vajpayee told presspersons at the Raj Bhavan after an aerial survey of the flood-hit districts of the State.

The Central Government was committed to stand by the people of Orissa and the State Government at this hour of crisis, Mr. Vajpayee said, adding that he was moved by the extent of devastation. ``I wanted to come earlier, but did not do so because it would have hampered the State Government's efforts in rescue and relief operations.'' He said he was in constant touch with the State Government.

Mr. Vajpayee said he flew along the Mahanadi from Hirakud Dam in Sambalpur district and saw the extent of the breaches and damage. The Prime Minister flew over the districts of Sambalpur, Bolangir, Sonepur, Angul, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri and Khurda.

While flying back, Mr. Vajpayee was to see Kendrapara, Jajpur and Bhadrak districts to see the damage caused by the Brahmani and Baitarani rivers. Mr. Vajpayee said the Super Cyclone in 1999, the severe drought last year and severe floods this year have put the State Government under tremendous pressure.

Appreciating the relief and rescue operations of the BJD-BJP coalition Government headed by Mr. Naveen Patnaik, Mr.Vajpayee said even now many areas were flooded. Mr. Vajpayee commended the role played by defence personnel.

The Orissa Government submitted a revised interim memorandum to the Prime Minister seeking an assistance of Rs.733.85 crores. During the review meeting, the State Government requested the Prime Minister to release further ad hoc assistance of Rs.300 crores in addition to Rs.100 crores already released for enabling the State Government to effectively deal with the aftermath of the floods.

Re-entry of Trinamool

PTI reports:

Referring to the observation of the BJP president, Mr. Jana Krishnamurthy, that certain norms should be fixed for entry of parties into the NDA alliance, following reports of the possible re-entry of the Trinamool Congress into the NDA, Mr. Vajpayee said Mr. Krishnamurthy made a good suggestion. ``In fact, I am working on this suggestion,'' he added.

Mr. Vajpayee said that the Centre was considering whether the criteria fixed for according special category

status (SCS) to States required any change. Mr. Vajpayee said not only Orissa but many other states were demanding special category status.

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