New Delhi, Oct 04: Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today assured Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik that maximum Central assistance would be released to the state towards rehabilitation measures for flood-affected people. The assurance was given by Vajpayee when Patnaik called on him to apprise him of the efforts made by the state to handle the post-flood challenges in terms of restoration and rehabilitation measures, a state government release said.

Thanking the Prime Minister for the central package, Patnaik requested him for allocation of one lakh additional houses under the Indira Awas Yojna along with necessary cash assistance under the national calamity contingency fund to meet the state's share of 25 per cent as Orissa was facing serious resource constraint.

The Chief Minister emphasised the urgency in providing gainful employment to the flood-affected people as the Kharif crop had been completely damaged.
On Prime Minister's recent announcement to set up five more its in the country, Patnaik requested that Orissa also be considered, the release said adding that Vajpayee assured that the demand of the state would receive full consideration.

Bureau Report