Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 24: Union Home Ministry is going to take final decision within next few days on one component of nearly Rs 44,000 crore package forwarded by the State Government in the aftermath of devastating floods of September last year. However, for the second component the Ministry has sought sector-wise detailed proposals from the State Government.
This has been conveyed to State Governor N N Vohra by the Union Home Secretary, Anil Goswami when the former personally spoke to the latter to seek a very early decision with regard to both the components of the special package sought by the State Government.
Rs 43,959.56 crore package was forwarded to the Union Government by the State Government on October 11, 2014. This package comprised proposals for the release of funds for the relief and rehabilitation of families affected by the floods and for the construction of the damaged infrastructure.
The proposal forwarded by the State Government comprised two components—an amount of Rs 2,926.11 crore for providing relief and rehabilitation to the affected families and Rs 41,033.45 crore for the reconstruction of the damaged infrastructure.
Immediately after the promulgation of Governor’s Rule, Mr Vohra had asked the Secretary Revenue to vigorously pursue the Government of India for an urgent decision regarding the package of Rs 43,959.56 crore. The Governor even personally spoken to the Union Home Secretary to seek a very early decision in regard to both components of the special package.
According to the Raj Bhavan, the Home Ministry informed the Governor yesterday that the final decision with regard to the first component of the package— funds for the provision of relief and rehabilitation of the affected families, shall be taken in the next few days.
About the release of funds for the reconstruction of damaged infrastructure, the Home Secretary has informed the Governor that the State Government shall need to prepare detailed proposals for each sector and send them the same to the concerned Ministries of the Government of India. He has also informed that a copy of each proposal should also be sent to the Union Home Ministry so that they can follow-up on their end.
However, Governor has addressed the Union Home Minister once again requesting for an urgent and sympathetic consideration of the State Government’s claim of Rs 2,926.11 crore for the relief and rehabilitation of flood affected families. Side by side, the Governor has asked the Chief Secretary to convene an immediate meeting of all concerned Administrative Secretaries and fix a firm dateline by which each of them shall prepare detailed proposals/DPR and have the same delivered to the concerned Ministry in the Government of India.
The Governor has also asked for a further report in this matter from the Chief Secretary.
Meanwhile, Mr Vohra reviewed the to-date status of financial assistance under the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund for reconstruction of fully damaged houses.
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has informed that an amount of Rs 85.90 crore has been released to 12,363 beneficiaries. The financial assistance has been extended to the tune of Rs 51.44 crore and Rs 34.46 crore for the construction of 5,144 pucca houses and 6,893 kutcha houses respectively.
Financial assistance of Rs 29.71 crore has been extended to the beneficiaries for reconstruction of 2954 pucca and 34 kutcha houses in Srinagar district. The financial assistance in respect of other districts includes an amount of Rs 5.66 crore for 6 pucca and 1120 kutcha houses in Jammu district; Rs 2.84 crore for 222 pucca and 124 kutcha houses in Bandipora district; Rs 3.66 crore for reconstruction of 11 pucca and 711 kutcha houses in Udhampur district; Rs 10.36 crore for 40 pucca and 1992 kutcha houses in Rajouri district; Rs 3.96 crore for 87 pucca and 619 kutcha houses in Poonch district; Rs 6.91 crore for 639 pucca and 104 kutcha houses in Anantnag district; Rs 4.85 crore for 477 pucca and 16 kutcha houses in Budgam district; Rs 1.6 crore for 4 pucca and 312 kutcha houses in Kathua district; Rs 6.35 crore for 6 pucca and 1195 kutcha houses in Reasi district.
It may be recalled that the Governor has already directed the Divisional Commissioners of Kashmir and Jammu to ensure that the requisite information sought by the NDMA regarding full details of Bank Accounts in respect of the remaining cases is immediately made available to them.
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