XI LOK SABHA DEBATES,   Session IV (Budget) 

Tuesday , February 25, 1997 / Phalguna  6, 1918 (Saka)



Type of Debate: STATEMENT BY PRIME MINISTER

Title: Regarding Fire at Baripada, Orissa.

TEXT :

1551 hours


THE  PRIME  MINISTER  (SHRI H.D. DEVE GOWDA): Sir, with your kind permission I
would like to make the following statement about my  visit  yesterday  to  the
Orissa  State.  

	I would like to inform the hon. Members about my visit along with Shri
Sharad Pawar, the Leader of Congress (I), Shri Karia Munda of  the  BJP,  Shri
Biju  Patnaik,  Shri  Anchal Das, Shri Sriballav Panigrahi, Shri Srikant Jena,
Kumari Sushila Tiriya, all MPs from  various  parties.  We  paid  a  visit  to
Baripada  yesterday  February 24, l997 the site of the ghastly tragedy by fire
which broke out on February 23, 1997.

	The facts  about the incident are as follows:

	About  10,000  devotees  had  assembled  at  Madhuban  in the Baripada
Municipality of Mayurbhanj District, for a religious gathering which began  on
February  21,  1997 and was to conclude on February 23. On February 23, l997 a
devastating fire suddenly broke out at the site at 3.l5 in the  afternoon.  It
has  been  informed  by  the  State  Government  that  the  fire  brigade  was
immediately pressed into service, and while the women's  camp  site  could  be
protected, the fire spread through the men's camp site and l49 persons died on
the  spot.  Another  175  persons  were injured and were admitted to the local
hospital and to nursing homes. Of the injured persons, 28  have  succumbed  to
their injuries.

	Immediately after   the accident, the local administration deployed 43
 doctors to attend to  the  injured.        Local   voluntary   organisations,
businessmen and  political  workers also joined the rescue efforts.  A team of
medical experts and para-medical staff  from  the  Medical  College,  Cuttack,
has also reached Baripada.  

	The process  of  identification  of  the  deceased    is  on and their
relatives  and acquaintances are  coming  for identification. 

	I would like to inform the hon. Members that the Central Government is
going  to  release  rupees 50,000 to the families of the deceased and to those
persons who have been disabled permanently. For others who have been  injured,
the Central Government would provide Rs.25,000.

	The  State  Government  has  also announced financial relief of rupees
25,000 to the next of kin of the deceased and rupees l0,000 to each  of  those
injured.

	I  have  also requested the Chief Minister to make efforts to have the
deceased identified precisely so that the assistance being given  reaches  the
right  persons.  Given  the difficult situation, the local authorities and the
State Government are making the best possible efforts to deal with it.

	I  have  been  informed  that  the  State Government has instituted an
inquiry into the accident to be conducted by the  Divisional  Commissioner  of
the  Central  Revenue  Division,  Cuttack  to ascertain the sequence of events
leading to it and to determine whether prompt steps were taken to control  the
fire and provide medical care to the victims.

	I am sure I speak on behalf of all the hon. Members in expressing deep
grief at this sad event, and in expressing  condolences  to  the  families  of
those who have died, and wish for the recovery of the injured.

							(ends)



SHRI SHARAD PAWAR (BARAMATI): Mr. Prime Minister, your  visit  has  definitely
created  a sort of confidence in the minds of the local people. It was a great
relief to them. My only request is  that  whatever  financial  assistance  the
Government of India is going to give, has to be released as early as possible.
SHRI SHARAD PAWAR (BARAMATI): Mr. Prime Minister, your  visit  has  definitely
created  a sort of confidence in the minds of the local people. It was a great
relief to them. My only request is  that  whatever  financial  assistance  the
Government of India is going to give, has to be released as early as possible.

During the last visit of the hon. Prime Minister to that State at the time  of
drought,  Rs.  50  crore relief had been announced. But the concerned Ministry
has not released that money to that State. That is why, it should  not  happen
at this juncture.

SHRI  H.D.  DEVE  GOWDA:  The  amount  has  been  released  not  as  a special
assistance. As I promised, Rs. 50 crore  has  been  released.  But  they  want
special  assistance.  (Interruptions).  I  will reply tomorrow about what they
have released. We have released this amount today itself and I have passed the
orders to place the amount at the disposal  of  the  Chief  Secretary  of  the
Orissa Government. (Interruptions).

SHRI  SRIBALLAV  PANIGRAHI (DEOGARH): Sir, only Rs. 13 crore has been released
by the Government of India. (Interruptions).

MR. CHAIRMAN (SHRI P.M. SAYEED): Mr. Panigrahi, as you know,  after  making  a
statement we do not have the convention of any clarification.

			... (Interruptions)

SHRI  PINAKI  MISHRA  (PURI):  We are a very poor State as it is and on top of
that, we are very badly ravaged by natural calamities. That is why, we do  not
doubt  the  hon. Prime Minister's intention, but at the cutting edge level his
promises are not being fulfilled.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Now, the hon. Prime  Minister  has  said  that  he  has  already
released Rs. 50 crore.

			... (Interruptions)

MR.  CHAIRMAN:  I  cannot  allow  you.  After  making  a statement, there is a
convention in this House that there is no clarification sought. I cannot allow
you.

SHRI SARAT PATTANAYAK (BOLANGIR):  The  hon.  Prime  Minister  should  provide
maximum  funds, especially for providing drinking water. From March onwards we
are not going to have  a  drop  of  water  in  Bolangir,  Kalahandi,  Koraput,
Mayurbhanj  and  other  parts of the State. So, my humble request to the Prime
Minister is that he should provide maximum  funds  to  the  State  as  far  as
drinking water problem is concerned. (Interruptions).

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SHRI H.D. DEVE GOWDA: I am prepared to give all the details.




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