Uttarakhand flash floods: CM disburses Rs 20 crore for relief work

Staff Reporter

Mon Aug 06, 2012, 12:30 PM

Dehradun: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna on the phone and enquired about the situation in Uttarkashi and other natural calamity hit areas and assured him of all possible support from the Central Government. He asked Mr. Bahuguna to send the estimation of loss to the Centre so that necessary steps could be taken in this direction. Prime Minister said that the Central Government was with Uttarakhand in its hours of need. Meanwhile, Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Harish Rawat also apprised the PM about the damage caused by the natural disaster. Chief Minister Bahuguna would call on the Prime Minister to discuss about the disaster relief.

Earlier, Chief Minister Bahuguna, chairing the meeting held to discuss issue pertaining to disaster and the loss incurred, directed the officers to provide relief to the affected people at the earliest. He disbursed Rs. 20 crore from Disaster Relief Fund. The next-of-kin of the diseased persons would be given Rs 3 lakh each and Rs. 1 lakh each for totally damaged house. As there is no provision of relief fund for the damaged shops, ex-gratia of Rs. 1 lakh each has been announced for the same from Chief Minister Discretion Fund. Chief Minister directed the officers to ensure sufficient supply of goodgrains, drinking water, clothing, medicines, for the people shifted from danger areas and pilgrims stranded at several places. He also asked them to disburse immediate financial relief of Rs. 2700 each to every affected family.

Chief Minister Bahuguna instructed the officers concerned to clear the roads obstructed by land slides on war footing and resume power supply interrupted owing to damaged electricity poles. He instructed to take out all the stranded pilgrims at several places and continue the operation till all the pilgrims were extracted from the stranded areas. Mr. Bahuguna said that as per his instructions, additional ration had been kept in the sensitive areas. According to him, 507 MT wheat, 387 MT rice and 13 KL kerosene were available at Uttarkashi. He said that if needed the commodities would be sent from the reserved quota. 3 tankers were available and 17 hand pumps were working there.

Mr. Bahuguna said that Prime Minister had already been informed about the disaster. Stating that financial assistance would be sought from the Centre after estimating the damage, Mr. Bahuguna said that as of now financial relief of Rs. 3 lakh each be given to the dependents of deceased persons and Rs. 1 lakh each to those whose houses had been totally damaged. He said that Rs. 1 lakh each would be provided from CM Discretionary Fund for damaged shops. He also issued instruction to send special medical team to take precautionary measures to prevent possible epidemic after the disaster. He also directed to keep the educational institutions closed for one week in Uttarkashi District.

Chief Minister asked the BRO to construct temporary bridges so that stranded people could be taken out. He said that District Adminsitration, Disaster Management Team, PAC and ITBP were carrying out relief operation. He said that the National Disaster Team was going to reach shortly. Team of senior officers would camp at Uttarkashi to monitor the relief operations. Chief Minister has appealed to the general public to come forward to help disaster affected people.

The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Alok Kumar Jain, DGP Vijay Raghav Pant, Principal Secretary Disaster Omprakash and other senior officers.