Uttarakhand seeks Rs 13,800 cr for reconstruction, relief work

Uttarakhand today sought Rs 13,800 crore from the Centre for reconstruction and relief work in the flood-ravaged state at the first meeting of the Cabinet Committee on the issue and claimed to have got an assurance from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in this regard.

The Cabinet Committee discussed the issue of compensation and rehabilitation in the state with Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna saying that his government has decided to declare the 5400 people, who are still missing after the flash flood tragedy, as "presumed dead" and give them compensation.

The missing people will, however, not been given death certificates.

"5400 people are still missing. Out of these 924 are from the state. These are presumed to be dead and Rs 5 lakh cheque each will be given to their family members. The Finance Minister said that the LIC should be asked to expedite their insurance claims as was done during tsunami," Bahuguna said.

The Committee chaired by the Prime Minister has senior ministers A K Antony, Sharad Pawar, P Chidambaram, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Sushilkumar Shinde, Oscar Fernandes, Kapil Sibal, Girija Vyas, Jairam Ramesh and Harish Rawat as members.

Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Bahuguna and National Disaster Management Authority vice chairman M Shashidhar Reddy are the permanent invitees.

The committee has been tasked with providing broad guidance to reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts in Uttarakhand, and take such decisions, as may be required.

Singh has already announced Rs 1,000 crore for disaster relief measures in flood-devastated parts of the state.

Bahuguna said that he got a "favourable response" from the Centre for the sanction of funds of Rs 13800 crore and that Singh assured all help will be provided to the state.

He said according to Singh and Chidambaram the Asian Development Bank and World Bank "will find ways and means" for it.