This Article is From Aug 18, 2014

Odisha Villagers Keeping Damaged Houses Intact for Getting Government Help

Odisha Villagers Keeping Damaged Houses Intact for Getting Government Help
Kendrapara: Flood-hit villagers in Kendrapara district are shying away from rebuilding their ravaged houses in the recent deluge waiting for government assistance to reach them.

With life limping back to normalcy in many areas, the villagers were found to be keeping the damaged portions of their houses intact till the enumeration process was carried out by the government officials.

"Around 3,611 mud-walled houses have collapsed and reports of more houses damaged in the flood and the exact number is being ascertained. The enumeration process is being carried out by tehsildars and BDOs in affected areas," Kendrapara District Emergency Officer, Rajani Kanta Mohanty, said.

However, as reports indicate people have largely opted for keeping the things disorderly to ensure that compensation doles do not elude them. Some of them have the resources to salvage the damage but yet to undertake the house repair, Mohanty said.

The Revenue Inspectors have been directed to make an on-the-spot assessment of the number of houses damaged in the recent heavy rain and directed to submit a detailed report within next couple of days. Besides, to make it foolproof, the entire process would be video-graphed, district Collector Pramod Kumar Das said.

"We are waiting for the visit of Revenue Inspector (RI) and assess our damage so that we are covered under compensation scheme. Till his arrival, we have decided to keep the signs of damages intact", Raghunath Sahu, a native of Ayatpur village, said.

A villager Rasananda Rout said his mud house and cattle shed have been damaged. As the damaged portions would be photographed as an evidence of the loss, it has become binding not to disturb the rubble.

"The administration has provided us polythene sheet with the help of which we have built a temporary shed", he added.

People whose houses were razed to ground or partially damaged due to the flood patiently wait for ground level government officials to arrive at the site and estimate the extent of damage.
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