Revenue Minister Kaul Singh Thakur informed the assembly that state government would ask for additional calamity relief from the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund on the pattern of disaster-hit Uttarakhand.
While replying to a question in the assembly raised by the Gulab Singh Thakur, Minister said that state government mobilising its all possible resources and trying its best to provide relief to victims. He added that the Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh had already raised this issue with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and has written to him to expedite the early release of Rs.1,972.08 crore based on the damage estimates, so restoration and relief works could be taken up fast.
Giving detail of causalities in rain hit area, the minister said deaths due to rains in the state June 15-17 were reported 64 and losses were pegged at Rs.2,934.05 crore. Heavy rain has damaged 9,812 buildings and 24,390 animals died in whole state.
The minister revealed that the central government had provided Rs.68.12 crore reliefs in the first installment and another amount of Rs.69 crore was due for release. He said the state had released Rs.129.24 crore for relief works.
Earlier yesterday, Himachal Lokhit Party convener Maheshwar Singh has raised an issue of difference in the relief being distributed to victims in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. While addressing press at Shimla, HLP lone legislature stated that in Himachal family of died victim is getting Rs. 1.5 lakh whereas, victims of Uttrakhand tragedy getting Rs. 5 lakh. For damaged house, HP Govt giving Rs. 35,000 and in Uttrakhand Govt allotting Rs. 2 lakh. Maheshwar Singh has asked HP Govt to raise this issue with central government and asked for more fund to fight with the calamity.
