August 09, Orissa government has announced to hike the ex-gratia amount to the tune of Rs.50, 000 to the next of the kin of those die of lightning.
“Central government has rejected the proposal to treat the lightening related death as part of natural calamity and to provide ex-gratia” Revenue Minister Manmohan Samal told reporters.
Now Orissa government has decided to provide compensation in form of ex-gratia to the next of kin of those die of lightning and state would bear the amount”, he said.
The decision was taken at a high level meeting called by the Chief Minsiter Naveen Patnaik to review the recent spell of heavy rain and flood situation in the state.
The floods have affected about 11 lakh people in nine districts, Cuttack, Khurda, Jajpur, Keonjhar, Jagatsinghpur, Rayagada, Kalahandi, Gajapati and Kendrapada , Samal said.
The incidence of lightening related deaths are increasing in the state and since August 1 13 persons are victim of the natural calamity; Samal said adding “we will amend the state Relief code to include lightening related deaths as natural calamity to ensure ex-gratia to the victims family”.
Meanwhile the state government has sounded a high alert in the wake of warning by meteorological office here that the likely low pressure over Bay of Bengal that might turn into a deep depression and affect at least five North Orissa districts of Balasore, Bhadrakh, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar and parts of Jajpur.
Odisha.in