Rs 3.26 cr sanctioned as reserve fund for districts: CM

Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini today said the government had sanctioned Rs 3.26 crore as a reserve fund for districts to provide immediate relief to people affected by the flood-like situation in the state. The amount is being utilised for food, clothing, temporary shelters, fodder and other essential items, including fuel, and transportation of relief material and drainage works in rural areas.

Addressing a press conference after an informal meeting of the Cabinet, he expressed grief over the loss of 13 lives due to house collapses. The government has released an ex gratia assistance of Rs 52 lakh for the bereaved families. An amount of Rs 4 lakh will be given to the family of each person. Apart from this, Rs 2 lakh has also been provided to those who are injured.

So far, 2.53 lakh farmers from 5,217 villages across the state have registered 14.91 lakh acres of affected land on the e-kshatipurti portal. Verification work is underway.

He said relief camps had been set up for people forced to leave their homes due to waterlogging. Compensation of up to Rs 15,000 per acre will be provided for damaged crops. To address the shortage of green fodder, arrangements are being made to procure dry fodder from districts unaffected by waterlogging.

The CM informed that all Deputy Commissioners had been directed to conduct surveys of houses that had collapsed or been partially damaged in waterlogged areas. Families residing on panchayat land or other such land for the past 20 years, and whose houses had been damaged, would also be included in the list of beneficiaries.

He further said the government had made extensive arrangements for the treatment of affected people by sending teams of doctors to the affected areas. Health facilities were being provided through medical camps. The CM also appealed to the public to ensure clean drinking water, advising them to use boiled water before consumption.