The Punjab government has sought from an inter-ministerial Central team relaxation in the norms for increasing disaster relief for victims as it worked out losses of over Rs 1,300 crore due the recent floods in the state.
Several parts of Punjab were affected by a downpour in the state between July 9 and July 11, flooding vast expanse of agricultural fields and other areas besides paralysing normal life.
During the meeting, the Chief Secretary requested the Central team to allow a relaxation in the norms for financial assistance to the flood-affected people, according to an official release.
Punjab Chief Secretary Anurag Verma pointed out that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has already written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, saying there is no shortfall in the state disaster response fund (SDRF) and only a change in the norms for compensating the damage is required so that loss of the people can be fully compensated.
In the letter written to Shah, the chief minister urged that the amount of compensation for the loss of life be doubled from Rs 4 lakh to Rs 8 lakh, Rs 17,000 to Rs 34,000 for crop damage, Rs 37,500 to Rs 75,000 for milch animals and Rs 1.20 lakh to Rs 2.40 lakh for damaged houses, Verma said.
Giving details of the overall damages, the Chief Secretary said the agriculture sector suffered the damage of Rs 605.38 crore followed by roads and buildings at Rs 173.10 crore, water resources at Rs 159.36 crore, urban infrastructure and local government offices at Rs 44.38 crore, rural development and panchayats at Rs 43.66 crore, school education at Rs 26.85 crore, power at Rs 17.50 crore, fisheries at Rs 9.98 crore, water supply at Rs 5.66 crore, health at Rs 4.45 crore and miscellaneous at Rs 230.26 crore.
A total loss of Rs 1,320.59 crore has been incurred, he added.
