From the inordinate delay in completion of houses for 662 natural disaster-hit families in Pithoragarh to the recent suicide by a trader in Garhwal’s Kedarnath area, citing alleged irregularities in distribution of disaster relief fund, things reflect a dithering State Government in mitigating hardships of the disaster victims.
What is worrisome is that out of about Rs33.10 crore sanctioned for construction of houses for 662 disaster- hit families i.e. Rs5 lakh for each house in Pithoragarh under the house reconstruction programme, only about Rs14.07 crore has so far been distributed in two installments among the affected families whose houses were damaged in the devastating monsoon in Pithoragarh in 2013. Notably, the State Government started reconstruction of the damaged houses, sanctioning Rs5 lakh per house for each family. It also announced to grant Rs3,000 per month to those disaster-hit families which have been living in rented accommodations.
The officials concerned of the Pithoragarh district administration claim to have also distributed Rs11.56 crore from the disaster relief fund and the Chief Minister’s relief fund as per norms among the disaster-hit people. However, due to delay in completion of the houses, many families are still living in rented accommodations in Pithoragarh.
HC Semwal, District Magistrate, Pithoragarh, said that third and fourth installments of the fund might be granted at one go to those families whose houses are near completion.At the same time, he has also emphasised on the need to maintain quality of works in construction of these houses.
The district administration Pithorgarh has also urged the natural disaster-hit families to take up their concerns with the officials concerned at disaster control room through contact numbers i.e. 05964-226326; 05964-228050.
According to the officials concerned of the disaster management Pithoragarh, the new houses are being constructed under the retrofitting system, keeping in view the disaster management norms.