Post Fani, Patnaik wants special status for Odisha

Bhubaneshwar, May 12

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has demanded special category status from Centre for his disaster-prone state, saying it faces natural calamities almost every year.

In his first interview since Cyclone Fani that ravaged the coastal districts killing 64 persons, he said special category status is the need of the hour due to the massive loss to infrastructure which may stall growth of the state.

“In fact, this is one of our main demands before the Union Government. Odisha faces natural calamities almost every year. The assistance we get from the Centre is mostly for temporary restoration of infrastructure. We have to spend a lot from state’s own funds to work for the long-term,” Patnaik told PTI.

“This puts too much stress on our finances. Precisely for this reason, Odisha should be considered for special category status. In the last five years we had Phailin, Hudhud, Titli and now Fani. In addition to this, we has massive floods,” he added.

Patnaik, who was sworn in as the Chief Minister for the first time in 2000 and is now seeking the consecutive fifth term, said it was necessary to accelerate the growth rate of the state.

Meanwhile, unable to get power and water even nine days after Cyclone Fani ravaged coastal Odisha, angry people blocked roads at many places, including the state capital Bhubaneswar, today demanding the authorities address their problems quickly. — PTI

We are putting our best efforts in bringing back normalcy. Power infrastructure has been completely destroyed, especially in Puri and parts of Khurda districts where we have to re-electrify completely. Also lakhs of houses have been destroyed in addition to serious damage to tree cover and plantation crops.— Naveen Patnaik, Odisha CM