Uttarakhand tragedy: Special package for Kedarnath, Govindghat

Increases compensations steeply for all victims of the recent devastating floods in the hill state

The Uttarakhand government today announced a special economic package for Kedarnath and Govindghat, two of the worst-affected regions in the recent floods in Uttarakhand.

“Rambara and other areas in Kedarnath, as well as Govindghat in Badrinath, were the worst-affected and economic losses of small shopkeepers and businessmen have been enormous. We are announcing a special economic package for the victims in Kedarnath and Govindghat. Similarly, all locals in Kedarnath and Govindghat, who have suffered, will be suitably compensated as a special gesture by the state,” said Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna.  

The government announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh each for all the victims of yesterday’s MI-17 chopper crash at Gaurikund and said the government would bear all expenditures, in case their children want to do schooling from the hill state. The compensation for all policemen who died in the tragedy would be similar to that of the victims of the crash.

The government revised the compensation amounts given for natural disasters in the state. The death compensation has been increased from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. All those fully disabled will get a compensation of Rs 2 lakh instead of Rs 1.5 lakh. Similarly, the compensation for injured has been raised from Rs 20,000 to Rs 30,000 and for partial injuries it would be raised to Rs 15,000 from Rs 10,000.

With the disaster damaging 2,232 houses in the state, the chief minister doubled the compensation for fully damaged ones to Rs 2 lakh from Rs 1 lakh. Owners of partially damaged houses would get Rs 1 lakh.

For farmers, the state has raised the compensation from Rs 2,000 a nali (equal to 65 square metres) to Rs 5,000.