Rain ravaged Himachal Pradesh has sought a special package of Rs 325 crore for the repair and maintenance of roads constructed under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) scheme of Union Rural Development Ministry.
In a letter written to Union Rural Development Minister Jai Ram Ramesh, Chief Minister Virbahdra Singh said that the rainfall experienced on June 15 to June 16, 2013 has resulted in massive damage to the road network and a memorandum to this effect has been submitted to the Central Government.
Singh in the letter said that there has been extensive damage to roads and bridges in district Kinnaur in particular and other districts of the State. “In Kinnaur, there is still no access via roads, notwithstanding the fact that NH-22 is managed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO),” said the Chief Minister in his letter.
Meanwhile, according to the reports submitted to 14th Financial Commission, more than 4,100 roads have been affected in the rains and floods with the total loss of Rs 1218.17 crore. Under the PMGSY programme, Himachal Pradesh has constructed over 12, 000 kms of roads which is equal to 1/3rd of total State road network. Citing the meteorological data, Singh said that from
June 1 to June 19, the State had departure of 1427 percent of rainfall from normal while Kinnaur witnessed 334mm actual rainfall as against 21.9mm average rainfall for period of June. Chief Minister has sought special dispensation of Rs 325 crore for the State for purpose of repair and maintenance of PMGSY network and grant would also include construction of bridges in order to provide access to Sangla valley in district Kinnaur.
Singh in a second letter to Union Rural Development Ministry also sought compensation of CA, NPV and land acquisition cost for Himachal citing good record of environment conservation. “Our efforts of environment conservation have seldom been appreciated, compensated or rewarded,” said Singh.