Bhubaneswar, Oct. 1: The Orissa government has geared up its official machinery to spend Rs 1,208 crore on restoration and reconstruction work in flood-affected areas within the next 45 days.

The decision to expedite the execution of restoration and reconstruction work was taken at a meeting chaired by chief secretary Bijay Patnaik here today.

Patnaik said: “The Centre has already released Rs 154 crore as a first instalment from the Calamity Relief Fund out of Rs 411 crore earmarked for the state. We will request the Centre to release the second instalment without delay.”

Out of this amount, Rs 250 crore will be disbursed among flood-hit farmers as agriculture input subsidy.

The Orissa Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) will stage a silent demonstration tomorrow on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, at the headquarters of all the 314 blocks in Orissa, protesting against the state government’s failure to provide adequate relief to the flood-affected people. The Congress members will also sit on a dharna at all the 103 urban local bodies.

OPCC president Niaranjan Patnaik said: “The silent protest aims at exposing all the illegal and corrupt deeds committed by the government in the last 12 years. The government has also failed to reach out to the flood-affected people.”

On the other hand, the BJD has also decided to launch a week-long padyatra across the state to generate awareness about its various welfare schemes. Chief minister Naveen Patnaik will flag off the padyatra from a slum near Baibaba Square at Unit IX of the city.