Centre approves Rs. 7,346 crore compensation package for Uttarakhand

An additional allocation of Rs. 100 crore was also made

The Cabinet Committee on Uttarakhand (CCU) approved a package of Rs. 7,346 crore for the flood-ravaged Uttarakhand.

The CCU, which was formed under the Uttarakhand Reconstruction and Rehabilitation plan, held a meeting in New Delhi on Monday under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

In the meeting, other than Rs. 7,346 crore, an additional allocation of Rs. 100 crore was made for Uttarakhand.

The additional Rs. 100 crore would be given for the compensation that is being borne by the State government and is being given to the disaster-affected people in the State, even though it does not fall under the National Disaster Response Force’s (NDRF) guidelines.

Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna has agreed to spend the money on the eight districts in the State other than the flood-ravaged districts of Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Uttarkashi, Bageshwar, and Pithoragarh.

The compensation for the mules that were dead in the flash-floods would be increased from Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 50,000. Compensation would also be given for commercial buildings. This will be spent from Rs. 100 crore.

Of the Rs. 7,346 crore package, Rs. 1,885 crore would be given for the Centrally Sponsored Schemes, Rs. 1,200 crore would be given to the NDRF, Rs. 3,161 crore would be spent in externally-aided projects, Rs. 1,100 crore would be given under Special Plan Assistance.

Bhaskar Anand, Secretary, Uttarakhand Disaster Management Department told The Hindu , “After the mid-June disaster, Rs. 1,114 crore was sanctioned by the Centre of which Rs. 1,090 crore has already been released.”

“In addition to it,” Mr Joshi said, “Rs. 154 crore has been given to Uttarakhand from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund.”