Odisha seeks donation from NRI diaspora, foreign nationals

Odisha government has sought donations from foreign nationals and country's NRI diaspora for the reconstruction of the state in the aftermath of the devastations caused by the cyclone Fani in coastal areas. CM Naveen Patnaik tweeted, "#Odisha Chief Minister's Relief Fund now accepts donations from foreign nationals, Persons of Indian origin, overseas citizens of India and NRIs people can donate by visiting cmrfodisha.gov.in/donation/onlinedonation.php."

Bhubaneswar: Odisha government has sought donations from foreign nationals and NRIs to rebuild state's devastated areas in the aftermath of the destruction caused by cyclone Fani particularly in coastal districts, resulting in an estimated loss of Rs 12,000 crore.

"#Odisha Chief Minister's Relief Fund now accepts donations from foreign nationals, Persons of Indian origin, overseas citizens of India and NRIs," the Chief Minister's Office tweeted. Calling upon all to join hands to rebuild Odisha, the state government said, "Your contribution will heal many lives and also the state."

• #CycloneFani has left a trail of destruction behind, leaving our cities and villages in ruins. As we begin #RebuildingOdisha, every contribution, every helping hand will count. You can contribute here: https://t.co/d6LpZ0NC0K pic.twitter.com/ygjmo8q0UD

  — Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) May 12, 2019 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="

  #CycloneFani has left a trail of destruction behind, leaving our cities and villages in ruins. As we begin #RebuildingOdisha, every contribution, every helping hand will count. You can contribute here: https://t.co/d6LpZ0NC0K pic.twitter.com/ygjmo8q0UD

  — Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) May 12, 2019

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  #CycloneFani has left a trail of destruction behind, leaving our cities and villages in ruins. As we begin #RebuildingOdisha, every contribution, every helping hand will count. You can contribute here: https://t.co/d6LpZ0NC0K pic.twitter.com/ygjmo8q0UD

  — Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) May 12, 2019

People can donate by visiting cmrfodisha.gov.in/donation/onlinedonation.php. Separate phone lines have also been set up for donors from the US, Canada, UK, Australia, Singapore and UAE, among others.

Though the state government has spent more than Rs 6,000 crore in relief and restoration work within a fortnight of the calamity, the Centre has released Rs 1,341 crore so far, an official said.
The state government has sought Rs 12,000 crore from the Centre for the restoration work. The state has so far received donations of about Rs 200 crore from different agencies, organisations, individuals, industries and others in the aftermath of the cyclone that left at least 64 people dead and above 5 lakh houses damaged.

The condition of people in the worst-affected district Puri continues to be grim as they have no power in mid-summer. Of about 19 lakh electricity consumers in the district, power has been restored to only 19,000 even after 17 days of the calamity.

"In Puri, electricity restoration work is being carried out in full swing," an official said, adding that daily necessities of affected people have been met as relief assistance and monthly pensions have been disbursed.

The official said normalcy has returned to 90 percent areas in the other 13 districts. "It will take time to restore power in Puri because of the massive destruction of the infrastructure," he said.
More than 100 electricity towers have been uprooted in the cyclone in Puri.