Aid for disaster-hit families raised to Rs 5 lakh

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 29

In a major decision, the Uttarakhand government has decided to provide Rs 5 lakh each as part of relief amount provided to the families of persons who died in disasters. Earlier, only Rs 4 lakh was provided to the affected families.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the Disaster Management Department presided over by Chief Minister Harish Rawat today. Now, the compensation for damaged houses would be Rs 3 lakh against Rs 2 lakh provided for the purpose earlier.

Rawat directed setting up of a committee at the district level comprising a junior engineer and other technical experts which would certify whether the building was damaged or not. The purposed committee would also ensure the demolition of the damaged building. Moreover, Rs 3 lakh would be granted to all those buildings that the administration had declared as damaged.

The Chief Minister took another important decision on village guards known as gram prahari and decided that they would be given Rs 1,000 each for purchasing mobile phones while Rs 200 each for monthly recharge to strengthen the communication network in the district during natural calamities.

He praised village guards for their role during natural calamities and disaster management and said they helped in providing timely information about disasters and played a key role in disaster management. Rawat stressed village guards should be attached to District Emergency Operation Centres for quick response and strengthening the flow of information.

The Chief Minister was also informed at the meeting that Rs 7 crore had been provided to each hilly district and Rs 5 crore to each district in the plains for disaster management.