New Delhi-(Newsonair)Center today said, funds will not be a constraint for rebuilding Uttrakhand which had witnessed the worst ever floods last month that killed several hundreds and destroyed properties worth crores.Finance Minister P Chidambaram said today that the government is trying to develop a financial package for rehabilitation and reconstruction for which government will seek financial aid from multilateral bodies like World Bank and Asian Development Bank.
Chidambaram said, the government will soon sent a joint team of Finance Ministry and Home Ministry to discuss with Uttarakhand state officials the redevelopment plan for the calamity-hit state.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had last month announced financial support of Rs. 1,000 crore to Uttarakhand for disaster relief, of which Rs. 145 crore was released immediately.
Meanwhile, addressing to the media person on Monday at Dehradun the Union Rural Development Minister Jai Ram Ramesh announced that in Uttarakhand 50 days more work will be provided in addition to the existing 100 days work in a year under MGNREGA.
He said his Ministry will provide all necessary financial assistance for reconstruction of damaged roads and bridges connecting far flung areas.
He said his ministry already approved additional 14000 houses under Indira Awas Yojana and Rs. 333 core under PMGSY and also the construction of additional 500 km road under PMGSY.
In Uttarakhand, most of the pilgrims stranded at Badrinath have been evacuated by this evening. About 1500 pilgrims were evacuated today in which about 500 have been rescued by air and remaining on foot. They have been brought at Joshimath.
In Pithoragarh district sorties of helicopters could not taken place following inclement weather. Rescuers have rescued few stranded pilgrims on foot. Bad weather in the district has also affected foot packets and essential items dropping in the affected areas of the district.
The government has said that stranded locals will be evacuated by Tuesday evening. About 10 small helicopters have bee pressed into service for food packets and essential items dropping in the affected areas.
Government has directed the concerned DM by ensuring adequate food grain supply to the far-flung villages. Cremation of dead bodies recovered from debris at Kedarnath Ghati valley is also going on infaced manner and 94 bodies have been cremated till now with traditional rituals.
Teams of Doctor and paramedical staff have also been deployed in the affected areas to check the spread of epidemic and diseases. A 3-member expert’s team from centre is stationed at Dehradun to look after medical necessities in the state.
State government has intensified its drive to rehabilitate the people and restore damaged infrastructure in affected areas. Teams from Power department and PWD have been deployed for restoration of power supply and damaged roads in the rural areas.
In several worst affected localities, water supply system has been restored.
Officials have said that several months will be required for restoration of some roads and power projects based in Rudraprayag, Chamoli and Uttarkashi and Pithoragarh district.
Border Road Organisation has been asked for restoration of the important roads in view of speed up traffic and supply of essential to the affected villages.
Uttarakhand State Government today decided to setup statutory body for Rehabilitation and Reconstruction drives in the state.
As per decision of the state cabinet taken in a meeting held at Dehradun on Monday a statutory body will be formed in the name of Uttarakhand Rehabilitation and Reconstruction authority and Chief Minister of the state will be Chairman of the authority.
The meeting was presided over by the chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna who took dicision to give compensation to those who have not been given compensation separately earlier.
State Cabinet in its meeting at Dehradun said that in future no construction will be allowed on the bank of rivers and their in catchment areas.
Cabinet has also decided to provide food grain and essential items free of cost for one month to villages in disaster-affected areas.
It will be the responsibility of the concerned District Magistrate to full fill the needs of the affected villager.
In a significant decision the cabinet has decided that the state government bear all expenses of those children who have lost their parents in this calamity.
Cabinet also decided to give Rs. 500, as compensation to the students up to intermediate and for student getting technical education and higher education the compensation amount will be Rs. 1000.
Cabinet has also included Hotel, Dhabas and small eatery damaged in the disaster for the compensation.
State cabinet reiterated that financial assistance received from central and other state government and different sources will be spent judicially and reasonably for rehabilitation and rescue operation.
Meanwhile, Punjab government has decided to send ten thousand tons of wheat flour and rice, 100 tons of sugar besides 10,000 blankets, shawls and sweaters for the flood victims of Uttrakhand.
In a meeting at Chandigarh on Monday Punjab Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal expressed solidarity with the Uttarakhand Government and its people who have been rendered homeless due to the devastating floods.
Chief Minister decided to construct the dwelling units for the victims in 25 villages, whose houses had been completely demolished due to floods and were rendered shelter less.
For this purpose he has deputed a senior officer for the execution of this task with the consultation of Uttarakhand Government.
The chief minister also appealed to the people of Punjab to donate generously for this noble cause.
