M A I N   N E W S

U’khand gets rehab authority
Agency to rebuild flood-ravaged state
Construction along riversides banned
Tribune News Service

wake-up call The Uttarakhand Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority will ensure that the new constructions in flood-hit areas last 100 years and withstand the impact of earthquakes and other natural disasters It will also oversee that the relief measures are conducted in a transparent manner so that the aid trickles down to the last affected person Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna (pic) will be the chairman of the authority 680 still stranded Over 200 pilgrims and locals were rescued on Monday from flood-ravaged areas of Uttarakhand where another 680 were still stranded. Around 3,000 persons are reportedly missing, said officials Help from World Bank, ADB The government will seek financial aid from the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank for reconstruction and rehabilitation in Uttarakhand, Finance Minister P Chidambaram said on Monday.

Dehradun, July 1
Severely jolted by rain, landslides and massive flooding of rivers, the Uttarakhand Government today banned all construction activity along river banks. Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna also announced the constitution of the Uttarakhand Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority.

“The authority, with the Chief Minister as its chairman, would ensure that the new constructions in the affected areas last 100 years and withstand the impact of earthquakes and other natural disasters,” said the Chief Minister after a Cabinet meeting.

Bahuguna said the authority would also oversee that the relief measures were conducted in a transparent manner so that aid trickled down to the last affected person.

Lauding the resilience and compassion of the local people, the CM said the government had announced an increase in honorarium to ameliorate their suffering. “No relief measures existed under the disaster relief norms for small enterprises and eateries destroyed in the rain-triggered floods and landslides. We have relaxed the norms and now payment would be made (to their owners) through the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund,” he said.

The CM said it had been decided to give Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh in case of damaged small kiosks and ‘dhabas’ and Rs 2 lakh for hotels completely demolished in the deluge.

In case of commercial establishments suffering damage worth Rs 2 lakh to 10 lakh, 30 per cent of the damage would be compensated, while 20 per cent of the total loss would be reimbursed in case of damage worth Rs 10 to 20 lakh and 10 per cent for losses totalling over Rs 20 lakh, he said.

Farmers and house owners in whose fields debris has got deposited would be allowed to remove it within three months and sell it in the local market. “They will be allowed to sell the material in the state only and strict action will be taken in case of any violation. The use of JCBs will also be allowed with the permission of the District Magistrate for removing boulders,” the CM said.

Electricity and water tax dues have also been waived from June 1, 2013, to March 2014. The flood-hit will be exempted from repaying loans taken from cooperative and nationalised banks for one year. The CM also announced to supply 15 kg each of rice and flour, 5 kg pulses, 3 kg sugar, one litre each of refined and mustard oil, salt and spices and 10 litre kerosene to each affected family inhabiting areas totally cut off for one month.

Students up to intermediate standard will be given a one-time compensation of Rs 500 each, while students of polytechnic and degree colleges will get Rs 1,000 as one-time compensation, Bahuguna announced. (With PTI inputs)