Setting aside a total of Rs 475.56 crore for the flood-hit districts of the state, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Wednesday ordered the concerned officials to prepare comprehensive rehabilitation plans for the ravaged areas, including the works needed to be carried out post the relief operations.
While Rs 242.33 crore is being used for the immediate infrastructure works or relief operations, another Rs 233.23 crore will be provided in the short and long term, after proper damage assessment and planning, said an official spokesperson.
Reviewing the flood situation, Capt Amarinder asked the Chief Secretary Karan Avtar Singh, who is heading the disaster management group, to ensure prompt execution of post flood infrastructure works to address the damage caused to the public installations.
He also emphasised the need for constant monitoring of the post-flood operations to ensure time-bound action on such plans as may be prepared for the affected districts.
The Chief Minister has directed all the Deputy Commissioners to prepare rehabilitation plans and ensure supply of food, drinking water, shelter and medicines to all the affected people till so required.
He also asked the Animal Husbandry Department to provide the necessary fodder and medicines for the livestock in the affected areas on priority.The review meeting was informed that of the total Rs 475.56 crore, set aside for the execution of flood relief or infrastructure works, a sum of Rs 68.75 crore would be spent on restoration works in Rupnagar district, Rs 91.38 crore in Moga, Rs 119.85 crore in Jalandhar, Rs 189.62 crore in Kapurthala, Rs 54 lakh in Fazilka, and Rs 5.42 crore in Ferozepur.
Capt Amarinder has also asked the Additional Chief Secretary (Development) to ensure that the agricultural land affected by floods is reclaimed and restored for sowing of the next crop well in advance.He assured necessary assistance for the affected farmers in the form of compensation for their losses and free seeds.
The Chief Minister was apprised that the flood hit farmers would be compensated at the rate of Rs 12,000 per acre (in which Centre’s share is Rs 5,000 and the State Government’s share is Rs 7,000).
The compensation, which also include de-silting of land affected by floods, would be disbursed after completion of special girdawari, which the State Revenue Department has already ordered.
Deferring recovery of crop loans of the affected farmers taken from the State Cooperative Banks, the Chief Minister stated that he would take up this issue with the Central Government to request for a similar decision by the Commercial Banks in the State.
Notably, the State Government has already announced Rs four lakh per person to compensate the families of the deceased, besides monetary assistance to compensate the affected families in lieu of loss of their animals at the rate of Rs 30,000 per milch cattle, Rs 25,000 for bullocks and Rs 3000 for sheep, goat and pig.
The State Government, as per policy, would compensate the affected families at the rate of Rs one lakh for fully damaged pucca house and Rs 95,000 for fully damaged kacha house.
Farm labourers and other workers would also be compensated at the rate of Rs 60 per day per adult and Rs 45 per day per child, not housed in any relief camps set by the Government.