Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today distributed Rs. 22.81 crore as relief to the disaster affected people of Shimla district at Aloo Ground in Theog, Shimla. The relief provided aims at the rehabilitation of the families affected by the disaster caused due to heavy rains, landslides and floods earlier this year.
The compensation includes three lakh each given to 395 affected families whose houses were completely damaged. This adds up to rupees 11.85 crore. Separately, 10.96 crore were released to other 1,840 affected families. The districts suffered huge brunt of the disaster as 395 houses were completely damaged, while 458 kutcha houses suffered partial damaged and 354 farmers lost their livestock.
While addressing a huge public meeting on the occasion, the Chief Minister also announced the upgrading of Theog fire post and said that administration would explore the possibilities of building a district level hospital in Theog. "The state government will conduct a survey in this regard," said the Chief Minister.
He assured the local residents of filling the vacant posts of doctors and other staff in Theog Hospital at the earliest and stated that the government would also install modern machines at the hospital. The CM stated: "Although the state was dealing with a huge burden of debt due to the poor management of funds by the previous government, but the problem of lack of funds would not be allowed to come in the way of the development of the area."
He instructed the officials to complete the construction work of Parala Mandi by June, 2024. He said that the government would also make a provision of Rs. 10 crore for widening the road. He said that for the convenience of apple orchards, the state has requested the Central Government to include Chhaila-Kumarhatti road in Central Road and Infrastructure Fund.
While praising former minister Vidya Stokes' efforts to promote horticulture sector in district Shimla, the Chief Minister said the World Bank project in this regard was a result of her hard work and the horticulturists are benefitting massively from it. He added that it was the first time that three ministers and one Chief Parliamentary Secretary are representing district Shimla.
Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that the government was committed towards the welfare of the horticulturists and announced that the apples will only be sold in universal cartons from the next year. This would ensure that only 20 kg apples are sold in a box. He further stated that this year the state government ensured that the orchardists earn maximum profit for their produce by giving them facility to sell apples at per kilogram rate.
He further stated that the subsidy on equipments, fertilizers and pesticides available through Himachal Pradesh Marketing Committee has been increased to make these equipments available to the farmers and horticulturists at affordable rates. The government took a decision of historic increase the support price of apples by Rs. 1.5, thereby increasing the support price from rupees 10.50 to 12.
Sh. Sukhu pointed that the Central Government hasn't given any special relief package for the disaster-hit people of the state. He said: "Despite no support from the Centre, the State government is doing best to aid the disaster affected families and has announced a Special Relief Package of 4,500 crore."
"Not only this, when the proposal to declare a national disaster came in the State Assembly, no BJP MLA came forward in its support. However, the state government is resolved to provide full help to the affected by reducing its expenses. Our government has even amended rules in favour of a poor person," remarked the CM.
The government has increased the compensation for completely damaged houses from Rs. 1.30 lakh to 7 lakh, a remarkable 5.5 fold increase. In case of partial damages to a kutcha house, the compensation has been increased 25 times from Rs. 4,000 to One lakh. Similarly, in case of partial damage to a pucca house, the compensation has been increased by 15.5 times to rupees One lakh.
The compensation for damage to shops and dhabas has been increased four times from Rs. 25,000 to One lakh. For damages to cow sheds, Rs. 50,000 is being provided in place of earlier provision of 3,000. The compensation for the loss of agricultural and horticultural land has been increased from Rs. 3,615 per bigha to Rs. 10,000 per bigha.
The compensation for the damage to crops has been increased eight times from Rs. 500 per bigha to Rs. 4,000. Along with this, a provision has been made to provide Rs. 5,000 as monthly rent to the disaster affected families living in rented accommodation in rural areas and Rs. 10,000 for the families in urban areas.The state government is also providing free electricity and water connections, and cement at government rates for house construction to the affected families.
Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said: "Despite the adverse economic conditions, the state government is making efforts to bring the economy back on track. More than 20 thousand jobs opportunities are being provided in the government sector this financial year."
He added that over 45,000 pending death cases have been settled in the Revenue Lok Adalat in the state, which highlights the state government's effort to reach the last person.MLA Kuldeep Rathore said horticulture is the main source of income for the people of the area and said that the State Government has fulfilled the demands that have been pending for years.
Education Minister Rohit Thakur, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh, Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Mohan Lal Brakta, MLAs Nand Lal and Harish Janartha, former MLA Rakesh Singha, Vice Chairman of Forest Development Corporation Kehar Singh Khachi, Chairman of Himachal Pradesh Cooperative Bank Devendra Shyam, Congress leader Rajneesh Kimta, Chief Minister's Principal Advisor (Media) Naresh Chauhan and other dignitaries were present at the occasion.