BJP demands all party panel to oversee U'khand relief package

BJP has demanded formation of an all-party monitoring committee to oversee spending of Rs 7,346 crore package sanctioned by the Centre for relief and rehabilitation of flood-hit Uttarakhand.
An all-party monitoring committee was needed to prevent any embezzlement of funds meant for the rehabilitation of victims of the June tragedy, BJP state spokesman Prakash Suman Dhyani said in a statement here yesterday.
The statement came amid allegations of irregularities in distribution of relief, levelled against government functionaries during rehabilitation post the floods.
Besides a monitoring committee, concrete guidelines should also be issued to ensure transparency in the expenditure of the package so that people get maximum benefit out of it, Dhyani said.

He also demanded an additional package of Rs 5,000 crore for creation of employment opportunities in the calamity-hit areas where thousands of people have been rendered jobless.
A Cabinet Committee headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on December 9 sanctioned a Rs 7,346 crore package for the relief and rehabilitation of the flood-hit state.
Of the Rs 7,346 crore, Rs 1,885 will be given for Centre-aided schemes, Rs 1200 crore for schemes under National Disaster Relief Fund (NDRF), and Rs 1,100 crore will be given for special plan assistance.
Accusing the state government of being slow in reconstruction efforts, the BJP leader said despite nearly six months after the deluge, life is still waiting to get back to normal in the affected areas with a vast network of roads still damaged.