*Modalities to be finalized shortly for disbursement
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Jan 19: Union Government has released funds to the tune of Rs 1194 crore to Jammu and Kashmir under Prime Minister’s Special Package exclusively for the houses damaged during the devastating floods of September 2014. This financial assistance would be in addition to the aid already provided to the people under State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF).
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that Union Government has credited an amount of Rs 1194 crore in the account of Finance Department of Jammu and Kashmir for disbursement among the people for restoration/rebuilding of those houses which suffered damages during the floods of September 2014.
These funds would be credited into the account of Relief and Rehabilitation Department and then the same would be disbursed among the affected people, whose list is already lying with the Relief and Rehabilitation Department, through the Deputy Commissioners of the respective districts, sources said while disclosing that modalities for disbursement would also be finalized in near future so that this exercise is completed in shortest possible time.
Disclosing that this amount would be spent on extending assistance for completely damaged, severally damaged and partially damaged Pucca and Kacha houses, sources said that a scale of distribution was finalized during the discussion between the officers of the State Government and Union Government at the time of finalization of Prime Minister’s Special Package, which was announced by Narendra Modi during his visit to Jammu and Kashmir on November 8, 2015.
As per this scale, Rs 2.5 lakh would be provided for fully damaged Pucca house and Rs 1 lakh for fully damaged Kacha house. Similarly, Rs 1.25 lakh would be provided for severely damaged Pucca house and Rs 50,000 for severely damaged Kacha house and Rs 20,000 for partially damaged Pucca house and Rs 10,000 for partially damaged Kacha house. In this way, the assistance under all the three categories of damaged houses would be much more than the same provided earlier, sources said.
“This assistance would be in addition to the aid that has already been provided to the affected populace under State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF)”, sources said. Under Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund, relief at the rate of Rs 1 lakh for fully damaged Pucca house and Rs 50,000 for fully damaged Kacha house was disbursed among the affected people while as under SDRF an amount of Rs 75,000 was provided for fully damaged Pucca house.
The restoration and up-gradation of economic infrastructure under Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund Rs 80,000 crore worth Special Package is being carried out through “The Aggregate Macro Economic and Infrastructure Rebuilding” (TAMEIR) Plan. The Governor N N Vohra in a meeting held at the Civil Secretariat on January 14, 2016 had a detailed review of the work of restoration of flood damaged infrastructure.
It is pertinent to mention here that Rs 1000 crore was sanctioned as Special Plan Assistance under Annual Plan 2014-15 for the permanent restoration of infrastructure damaged during September 2014 floods, of which of Rs 980.08 crore had been released to various departments; Rs. 308.56 crore had been utilized during 2014-15 and Rs 511.51 crore has been revalidated for utilization during current financial year (2015-16).
Out of 202 bridges, restoration of 52 bridges has been completed by utilizing Rs 162.59 crore. For the permanent restoration of Water Supply Schemes, 598 schemes/ spots have so far been restored by utilizing Rs 63.18 crore out of total release of Rs 98.92 crore. Under the Irrigation and Flood Control sector, 1398 schemes/ spots have been restored so far by utilizing Rs 100.55 crore.
Moreover, an amount of Rs 1458 crore has been earmarked under PM’s Special Package for implementing “Comprehensive Plan for Flood Management Works on Jhelum”. Under this Project, “Priority Works- Comprehensive Plan for Flood Management Works on Jhelum-Phase-I” costing Rs 399.29 crore has since been sanctioned by the Government of India and the tenders have been finalized for dredging of Srinagar and Baramulla sections.
For time-bound completion of all emergent works, the Governor has already issued directions for constituting a group headed by Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, where the intensity of damages due to September 2014 floods was more as compared to Jammu region.
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