Bhubaneswar, August 3: Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari on Monday said that the State Government will send Rs 110 crore more assistance to the Collectors of the flood affected districts today.

Maintaining that the Government is now focusing on compensation and rehabilitation, Pujari said that Rs 36.98 crore has already been sent to the Collectors of the affected districts.

“The State Government will send Rs 110 crore more to the Collectors of the affected districts. Damage assessment drive and compensation to the affected families will go simultaneously. The State Government will provide Rs 12.88 crore towards damages to livestock while Rs 26 crore has already been provided to manage relief centres,” said Pujari.

He said that Revenue Department and Agriculture Department officials have been engaged for the damage assessment exercise.

Meanwhile, people who had taken shelter at relief camps or on riverbanks have started returning home and repairing their damaged houses. More than eight lakh people in 22 districts have been affected, with Bhadrak being the worst-hit district, followed by Balasore and Jajpur.

Pujari said that 8,63,909 people of 1458 villages spread over 656 panchayats in 85 blocks and 15 ULBs in 22 districts have been affected due to the flood. He said that as many as 2.67,301 people were rehabilitated while 529 relief centres were operated to give shelters to the flood affected people.

Meanwhile, the Centre on Monday released Rs 500 crore for Odisha for disaster management and mitigation.

The flood situation now is improving in the State as water levels of all major rivers have come down.