The Hindu : Front Page : Cabinet approves Rs. 821-crore package for Andamans

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Friday, Feb 18, 2005

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Cabinet approves Rs. 821-crore package for Andamans

By Our Staff Correspondent

NEW DELHI, FEB. 17. The Union Cabinet today approved a Rs. 821.88-crore relief and rehabilitation package for the tsunami-hit Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

The immediate relief and response assistance is to the tune of Rs. 313.19 crores while Rs. 215.65 crores has been earmarked for intermediate housing and relief employment generation.

A special package for the fishery sector carries Rs. 15.01 crores and the package for revival of agriculture stands at Rs. 239.54 crores.

A sum of Rs. 8.6 crores has been kept aside for the rehabilitation of orphans, widows, unmarried girls and the disabled. The special package for the immediate restoration of the damaged infrastructure has been given Rs. 29.89 crores.

The immediate relief and response assistance has been given under the Calamity Relief Fund and the National Calamity Contingency Fund, while the amount granted for housing and relief employment generation includes 7,500 tonnes of foodgrains worth Rs 7.5 crores, an official spokesperson told reporters after the Cabinet meeting.

It had been decided to give ex-gratia relief to the next of kin of those missing, subject to a proper verification and due procedure by the Andaman and Nicobar Administration.

The recommendations also include the payment of Rs. 1 lakh in addition to a similar amount from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund.

For fishermen

The assistance to fishermen includes Rs. 2.53 crores to construct cold storage.

In the package for the fishery sector for the mainland, it has been agreed that the cost of the country boats of the lowest category will be fully reimbursed.

In the case of the islands, the cost is high because of transportation as most of these are to be fabricated in the mainland and then transported.

In view of this, full subsidy will be given for replacement of country boats and nets up to unit cost of Rs. 65,000, including transportation from the mainland.

Replacement and upgrading of boats plus motor and nets up to unit cost of Rs. 1.5 lakhs will be given a subsidy of 50 per cent and the balance as loan while the repair of boats with motors will be given subsidies up to 60 per cent (with a ceiling of Rs. 65,000) and the balance as loan.

The repair of country boats will be subsidised fully up to Rs. 10,000 and the repair of cold storage will be subsidised according to the damage.

A sum of Rs. 2.53 crores has been earmarked for the purpose.

Intermediate shelters

The Cabinet also approved the construction of 10,000 intermediate shelters for the affected families for which Rs. 93.33 crores was also granted.

This follows the report of the Group of Technical Experts that recommended plans for intermediate shelter units and indicated the materials feasible for use in the shortest possible time and at a reasonable cost.

The average covered area per family has been kept between 21 and 23 square metres. The average cost of a shelter has been estimated to be Rs. 35,399, Rs. 32,350 and Rs. 48,169 per unit for a block of six, four and two units respectively.

According to the spokesperson, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Administration had identified critical activities for the construction of temporary shelters by April 15.

The preparation of the site, layout demarcation and excavation of pole holes would be completed by February 28 and the erection of poles by March 15.

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