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Central team to visit flood-hit areas

CHANDIGARH: The Union Government on Friday announced that a Central team would visit the affected areas to assess the quantum of damage and loss of human lives during the recent floods in Punjab. Subsequently, it would announce suitable compensation and consider revising the norms of the Calamity Relief Fund (CRF).

According to an official release here, the assurance came from the Union Home Minister, Shivraj Patil, when the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal called on him to seek special package of Rs 530.36 crore for the rehabilitation of the affected persons and restoration of damaged infrastructure.

Mr. Badal urged the Union Home Minister to relax the stringent norms fixed for the eligibility criteria under CRF and suggested that the relief in case of loss of crops be hiked from Rs. 4,000 to 15,000 per hectare and for damaged household goods the same be enhanced from Rs.1000 to 50,000.

Giving the tentative break up of the funds needed for undertaking rehabilitation and restoration works, Mr Badal said that Rs 243.25 crore were required for the payment of relief on account of the damage caused to crops, houses, cattle and infrastructure. Rs 287.18 crore would be needed for reconstruction/repairs of roads, dispensaries and school.

The release claimed that Mr. Patil assured the Chief Minister that he would personally take up the matter with Ministry of Planning for the relaxation of CRF norms. He said that a Central team would visit the flood affected areas on Saturday to assess the losses and assured that the Union Government would announce a special package after a detailed report on the situation.

Mr. Badal utilised the opportunity to impress upon the Union Home Minister to personally visit the border areas of Punjab for a first hand information about the hardships faced by the residents. He urged Mr. Patil to grant Rs.9.25 crore for compensation to farmers with fields across the barbed fencing along the international border at Rs. 5000 per acre.

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