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Rs. 130 cr. relief sought from Centre

By Our Staff Correspondent

SHIMLA NOV. 8. The state has suffered a loss amounting to Rs. 309 crores due to cloud bursts, flash floods and heavy rains during the monsoon this year. The loss includes damage to roads, bridges, buildings, drinking water and irrigation schemes and other important infrastructure facilities of public utility in the State.

This was disclosed to the Central team, led by Dr. Sugathan, Joint Secretary in Government of India who was on the visit of State to take stock of the situation.

An official spokesman said that the central team held meeting with the Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh here today. The Chief Minister apprised the team in the meeting that the State Govt. had taken up relief and restoration measures to provide timely succour to the general public besides maintaining the communication network in the State.

He said that Rs. 36 crores had already been spent for repair and restoration of roads and bridges, installation of drinking water supply schemes and timely transportation of food and fodder, besides giving immediate relief to the next of kin of those who lost their lives due to natural calamity.

The Chief Minister said that financial assistance amounting to Rs. 130 crores was needed immediately to restore various public utility services, roads, bridges, footpaths, drinking water supply and irrigation schemes. He said that State was facing widespread and extensive damage almost every year due to natural calamity, excessive rains, draught, snow and flash floods.

He said that these damages were taking toll of human lives, cattle heads, destruction of public utilities besides affecting roads and communication network, which is lifeline of the people living in this hilly State.

Mr. Virbhadra Singh urged the Centre to provide liberal assistance to the State so that infrastructural facilities for the general public could be restored expeditiously. Mr. Arvind Kaul, Chief Secretary apprised the central team about the detail of losses caused to various schemes and public utility services in the State. He said that 89 people lost their lives in natural calamities and major cloud bursts occurred in Gharsa area and Kangani Nallah near Solang in Kullu district. The central team did a spot four-day assessment in the districts of Solan, Una, Kangra and Shimla.

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