-Relief amount is being given for damage to crops, loss of human lives, livestock and houses
-Disaster Management Minister appeals to all officials and employees to further intensify process
Chandigarh, August 31:
Following the directives of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, the process of distributing compensation to the flood victims has been put on fast track. Revenue, Rehabilitation and Disaster Management Minister Bram Shanker Jimpa said that relief money is being given as per the rules issued by the Union Government. He said that Chief Minister Bhagwant Maan wanted the relief amount to be increased under various categories, but after not getting any positive response from the Union Government, now the state has accelerated the process of distributing the relief amount at the district level.
Jimpa informed that the complete reports regarding crop damage had not been received yet, but the relief money was being distributed in the districts where the Girdavari reports finalised. Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann had released an amount of Rs 186.12 crore to 16 districts on August 21 for crop damage compensation, of which around Rs. 6. 79 crore had been distributed till August 30. Jimpa said this is the first time that the government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has given compensation of Rs. 6800 per acre for damaged paddy sapling.
The Minister said that during the floods, 68 people lost their lives in the state, of which the family members of 62 people had been given an amount of Rs. 4 lakh per person. Similarly, reports of damage to 545 houses were received from different districts, out of which 306 house owners were received compensation amount of Rs. 1.20 lakh per house. Similarly, out of 3752 partially damaged houses, 2514 house owners had been given compensation amount.
Jimpa said that compensation amount is also being given for the loss of livestock. A total of 155 buffaloes and cows were reported dead in the state due to floods, out of which 99 animals have been compensated at the rate of Rs 37,500 per animal. Similarly, out of 14821 poultry animals, 14520 have been given due compensation.
The Minister said that instructions had been issued to all the Deputy Commissioners that the compensation amount should be given to the deserving people in a transparent and hassle-free manner. Jimpa said that in the coming days, the rest of the compensation amount will also be distributed promptly and if more money is needed apart from the said funds, there is no shortage of funds with the Punjab government. He has also appealed to all the officials and employees involved in the relief work to give firm support to the government in this calamity.
