Himachal has suffered losses of Rs787.47 crore due to flash floods during the rainy season this year.
Tough topographical conditions and unprecedented rain and snow make Himachal Pradesh vulnerable to various disasters like cloud burst, landslides and avalanches which required various preventive measures, said Himachal Additional Chief Secretary, Revenue, Tarun Shridhar in a meeting held with the Central Government team in Himachal to take stock of losses occurred in the State due to floods and other disasters.
Shridhar informed that State had occurred accumulated losses of Rs787.47 crore during rainy season this year. loss of Rs404.72 crore had been reported due to damage caused to roads and bridges alone.
As many as 5307 IPH schemes were completely or partially damaged, occurring losses of Rs214.52 crore, Rs32.15 crore losses had been caused to HPSEB, besides losses of public and private assets worth Rs2.55 crore. Tomato crop and apple orchards were also damaged, he added.
He said that despite limited resources, the State Government restored all the roads, IPH schemes and electricity on war footing.
He also reiterated that one of the major rescue operations of the country was conducted at Bilaspur tunnel where two persons were rescued after 15 days.
Additional Chief Secretary, Tourism, Tribal Development and IPR VC Pharka said that Government of India sanctioned funds on the basis of area and population not on vulnerability of disasters.
He said that vulnerability should be given weightage, as Himachal had different topography and climatic conditions.
Additional Chief Secretary, PWD, Narender Chauhan added that drainage and maintenance of roads was very essential and Government is spending huge money on it. He said accidents are more fatal in Himachal as compared to any other States in the country. Hence, the State Government is providing utmost priority in improving the road conditions and there was a liability of Rs300 crore for the same, he added.
During the meeting, Joint Secretary (Security), Union Ministry of Home Affairs, V Shashank Shekhar said that their team visited various flood prone and affected areas in the State.
He said roads had suffered major losses. He also asked for showing the rescue operations expenditure.