Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today started the 'Punrvaas', a rehabilitation initiative of the state government, towards the families affected by the disaster caused by incessant rains, landslides and floods during this monsoon season from Rath Maidan, Kullu and provided the benefits of special relief package to the affected.
The Chief Minister released Rs. 3 lakh each to 324 affected families of the district, amounting to total Rs. 9.72 crore, as the first installment through direct benefit transfer, for the construction of their houses in district Kullu. This compensation amount was provided to the owners of houses completely damaged during the disaster in the district for their rehabilitation.
He said that this special package will be provided from June 24, 2023 to September 30, 2023.The Chief Minister said that he himself had started relief and rescue operations from Kullu in the month of July last and today the scheme to distribute relief funds was also launched from here.
The resources of the state government are limited, but the spirit to rehabilitate each and every affected, is very high as the government is standing with the affected. Our government is the government of a common man and of the poor and better understand their pain and suffering.
That is why, despite having a debt of Rs. 75 thousand crore and liabilities of government employees worth Rs. 10 thousand crore, the state government has brought a special relief package of Rs. 4500 crore for the disaster affected families," said Sh. Sukhu.
Under this the compensation for a completely damaged house was increased five and a half times from Rs. 1.30 lakh to Rs. 7 lakh. Apart from this, in case of partial damage to a kutcha house, the compensation has been increased by 25 times from Rs. 4000 to Rs. 1 lakh and of partial damage to a pucca house the same has been increased by 15.5 times to Rs. 1 lakh.
The compensation for damage to shops and dhabas has been increased four times from Rs. 25 thousand to Rs. 1 lakh and for the damage caused to the cow shed has been increased from Rs. 3 thousand to Rs. 50 thousand.
The state government has increased the compensation amount of Rs. 2500 by 20 times and would provide assistance of Rs. 50 thousand for the loss of belongings to the tenants. The compensation on the death of milch and other animals has also been increased, he added.
He said that the compensation for the loss of agricultural and horticulture land has been increased from Rs. 3615 per bigha to Rs 10,000 per bigha and for the damage to crops has been increased eight times from Rs. 500 per bigha to Rs 4000.
The financial assistance given for removing silt from agricultural and horticultural land has been increased from Rs 1384.61 per bigha to Rs 5000.The Chief Minister said that when he reached Kullu amid the disaster, there was no electricity, no water and the roads were broken.
He himself supervised this huge rescue operation from ground zero. With the cooperation of officials, employees and common people, all the essential facilities were temporarily restored within 48 hours and more than 75 thousand tourists and 15 thousand vehicles were evacuated safely.
Food, drinks and other essential items were made available to the stranded people, praised by the entire country. He said that such a disaster had never occurred in the last 50 years and the people of the state had faced it with full strength and bravery. The state suffered a loss of more than Rs 12000 crores. About 16000 houses were damaged, out of which 13000 were completely destroyed. He said that the state government was standing with every disaster affected person and ensuring every possible help to them.
He said that the third team of the Central Government has reached the state to take stock of the damage caused, but till now no money has been received for special relief from the Centre. Whenever the state receives the same, he himself will go to thank the Government of India.
He said that the state government has sent claims worth Rs. 12,000 crore as per the rules of the Central Government, now at least the same amount should be given to Himachal, so that the state government can further help the affected.
About 300 tourists stranded in Chandratal in Lahaul-Spiti district were rescued safely. Without fearing for their lives, Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi and Chief Parliamentary Secretary Sanjay Awasthi completed this difficult mission amidst minus four degree temperature and six feet snowfall, said the Chief Minister.
With the cooperation of children, elderly, employees and every section of the society, an amount of more than Rs. 230 crore has been deposited in the disaster relief fund, he remarked.The Chief Minister said that this time cultural groups from 15 countries would participate in the International Kullu Dussehra, which was historic.
To make this year's Kullu Dussehra a grand success, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Sunder Singh Thakur and MLA Bhuvaneshwar Gaur were working hard day and night.Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi said that Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu believes in working and does what he says.
He said that due to the determination of the Chief Minister, the state government has brought a special package of Rs. 4500 crore, an example for the entire country. He said that not a single eligible person should be left out of this relief package and not a single ineligible person should be selected.
To ensure transparency, the state government will form committees at the tehsil level and conduct social audits.Accusing the BJP of playing politics in the disaster, Jagat Singh Negi said that the Leader of Opposition met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi but failed to bring even a single penny for the state.
He said that Jairam Thakur, when he was the Chief Minister, never went to the tribal areas by road and now while being in the opposition, he was trying to advocate for the people of the tribal areas.Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh said that despite financial constraints, the Chief Minister has released a package of Rs. 4500 crore for the disaster affected and under his able leadership, roads, electricity and water and other facilities were temporarily restored in a record time.
About 650 km of roads were being constructed in district Kullu and the state government was paying special attention to the quality of roads. He said that there was a difference between the words and actions of BJP and they did not support the resolution brought in the Assembly on a special package from the centre. If the opposition's intentions were clear, it would have supported the resolution of declaring it a national disaster, he reiterated.
Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Sundar Singh Thakur said that the Chief Minister worked at ground zero during the disaster. He had come to Kullu district for a few hours, but after considering the seriousness of the disaster, he stayed here for three days and expedited the rescue and relief operations and provided strong leadership. The government reached out to every affected person and sympathized with the disaster
MLA Bhuvneshwar Gaur welcomed the Chief Minister on his arrival in district Kullu and said that the state government has done historic work during the disaster and was working with sensitivity under his able leadership.
Deputy Commissioner Kullu, Ashutosh Garg welcomed the Chief Minister and informed about the steps being taken to help the disaster affected people in the district.Former minister Khimi Ram Sharma, District Congress President Sesh Ram Azad, SP Sakshi Verma and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion amongst others.