Administration yet to come up with final list

PARADIP: Compensation continues to elude the beneficiaries even 12 years after the Super Cyclone. The district administration is yet to come up with the final list of the next of kin (NOK) of the deceased despite instructions from the Chief Minister for a deadline on entertaining claims.  The Collector, Narayan Chandra Jena directed all tehsildars to complete the exercise by August 25 and prepare the final list of casualties. Admitting to the delay, Deputy Collector (Emergency) Bibhudha Mohanty said many tehsils are yet to submit their list of NOK. While 1,850 beneficiaries are yet to get Rs 50,000 to be released from the Prime Minister Relief Fund (PMRF), 1,400 new applications have been received, he informed.  They have only received Rs 25,000 from the CMRF of the total Rs 75,000 ex gratia.The administration has so far received  Rs 27 crore as ex gratia from PMRF. While 5,400 NOK of the victims have been compensated, the administration needs another Rs 7.3 crore to pay the remaining beneficiaries. Meanwhile, Debraj Bej of Padmapur village under Ersama block has filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court for the compensation. He had lost his two brothers in the Super Cyclone. While Padmapur panchayat reported 750 casualties, only 430 people have received compensation.  Official sources said the number of NOK keeps on increasing with people submitting their claims through the SC, HC and the Lok Pal.