By Anurjay Dhal
RAJKANIKA/KENDRAPARA(ODISHA): A seemingly worried Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday rang up to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and briefed him about the current COVID-19 situation in the State, where positive cases have reached at 90 with the Government completely shutting down 3 districts bordering West Bengal for next 60 hours.
Sources manning Naveen Niwas, the official residence of Chief Minister Patnaik, however informed over phone from Bhubaneswar that PM Modi heard patiently to BJD Boss and assured all help from Central Government to Odisha.
The Chief Minister Patnaik, who already cancelled the age old Rukuna Rath Yatra and Chandan Yatra of Lord Lingaraj Temple in State Capital, also drew attention of PMO towards the World Famous Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath in pilgrimage city of Puri in July this year. A meeting among the Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee to be held to take a final call on it.
The Union Finance Ministry had released a soup of Rs 10,337.15 crore to Odisha as part of PMGKY. The Finance Ministry had already also released Rs 2131 crore as part of various Central Taxes and Duties to Odisha. Centrals PSUs like Indian Oil Corporation Ltd, NALCO, NTPC, MCL, PPT, SAIL and others have joined hands with State Government for construction of COVID-19 Hospitals across the State.
“After utilising some 30% shares of District Mineral Foundation Funds(DMF Funds of Rs 9000 crore), is now reportedly eyeing on Rs 17,000 crore deposited at RBI account of Odisha Mineral Bearing Areas Development Corporation (OMBADC) and the Compensatory Afforestation (CAMPA).The State Government is likely to withdraw around Rs 12,000 crore from these two accounts at RBI. The Chief Minister might have taken up the matter with PM to ask RBI to release the funds,” sources said.
