U'khand announces sops for flood-battered people

Uttarakhand Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority, first of its kind in country, was constituted through a cabinet decision today

The Uttarakhand government today announced a series of financial sops for the flood-hit people, set up a reconstruction and rehabilitation authority for all long as well as short term measures to deal with the aftermaths of the worst-disaster and banned on construction of new buildings on all river-beds in the hill state.

The Uttarakhand Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority, the first of its kind in the country, was constituted through a cabinet decision today, chief minister Vijay Bahuguna said.

The authority would be chaired by the chief minister and will have a panel of experts to take up all the reconstruction and rehabilitation works on war-footing in the state with a 100 year planning.

“We have set a goal of 100 year planning in Uttarakhand before the authority,” said Bahuguna.

Since the government is expecting much more than previously estimated Rs 3,000 crore aid, relief committees involving District Magistrates, MPs and MLAs have also been set up to assist the authority.

In yet another decision, construction of all buildings in and around riverbeds has been banned completely. However, the chief minister said decision regarding the exact area to be covered in this regard on both sides of the river will be taken later.

The decision assume significance in the light of the recent devastation caused in Kedarnath and other areas in the state because most of the collapsed buildings and houses were constructed on both sides of Mandakini, Alaknanda and Bhagirathi rivers which wreaked havoc in the state on June 16-17.

For compensating the collapsed hotels and dhabas, the government announced a separate package which includes a provision of Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh to all the damaged dhabas. For the totally damaged small hotels, the compensation will be Rs 2 lakh.

For bigger hotels where losses are Rs 2 lakh to Rs 10 lakh, the government will compensate 30% of the total losses. In case the losses are Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 lakh, the compensation will be 20%. And above Rs 20 lakh, the compensation will be only 10%.

The government has also announced that all electricity and water bills in the affected areas will be waived from June 1 to March 31, 2014.

The loans taken by disaster-affected families from state cooperative banks will be suspended for the financial year 2013-14. The government will also request the centre to suspend such loans from nationalized banks also for a similar period.

The affected people would be given 15 kg of wheat flour, 15 kg of rice, 5 kg of pulses, 3 kg sugar and other things free of cost.  All children who have been orphaned, the government will take full responsibility for their upbringing that includes schooling also.

As a special gesture for the plain areas, the government would provide 50% more compensation for the sugarcane damaged crops.