PM Modi announces Rs 1,200 crore assistance for disaster-affected Uttarakhand
PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE | Dehradun
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced a financial assistance of Rs 1,200 crore for the disaster -affected Uttarakhand. He made the announcement after holding a meeting with the Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and officers of the State administration during his brief visit to the State on Thursday.
Modi also announced an ex-gratia of Rs two lakh for the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for those seriously injured in the floods and related disasters in the State.
In the meeting the PM reviewed the relief and rehabilitation measures and assessed the damage caused by the natural disaster in the State.
The PM emphasised on the need for having a multi-dimensional approach to help the entire region and its people recover. This would include measures such as rebuilding homes under the PM Awas Yojana, restoring national highways, reconstructing schools, providing relief through the PMNRF and distributing mini kits for livestock.
He said that the Union Government sent inter-ministerial teams to the disaster-affected areas of the State to assess the extent of damage and based on their detailed report further assistance will be considered.
The PM also stated that the assistance under the purview of the disaster management act including advance disbursements to the States being announced at this stage are for the interim period. The Union government will further review the assessment based on the memorandum of the State as well as the report of the Central teams. He appreciated the efforts of the personnel of NDRF, SDRF, Army, State administration and other service-oriented organisations for making efforts in immediate relief and response.
He said that under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin) financial assistance will be extended under “Special Project’’ submitted by the government of Uttarakhand for reconstruction of houses in rural areas to eligible households whose houses have been damaged due to floods.
In his visit the PM also met some families who had been affected by the recent natural disaster. He conveyed his solidarity with all those who had suffered and offered heartfelt condolences to the families who lost their loved ones.
The PM expressed his condolences to the family members of those who have lost their lives in the natural calamity and stated that the Union government will work closely with the State government at this difficult time and extend all possible assistance. He said that children orphaned by the recent floods and landslides will receive assistance through the PM CARES for Children scheme, ensuring their long-term care and welfare.
The PM assured the CM that the Union government will make all efforts to address the situation.
PM’s aerial survey of disaster-affected areas cancelled
DEHRADUN: Inclement weather forced Prime Minister Narendra Modi to cancel his aerial survey of the disaster- affected Dharali (Uttarkashi) and Tharali (Chamoli) on Thursday. After landing at Dehradun airport, Jolly Grant, the PM was scheduled to conduct an aerial survey of the disaster affected areas but it was cancelled due to bad weather conditions and poor visibility. The PM was welcomed by chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami at the airport. He then held a meeting at the State guest house at the airport in which he assessed the damage caused by the rain triggered disaster. The meeting was attended by governor lieutenant general (retd) Gurmit Singh, CM Dhami, BJP State president Mahendra Bhatt, chief secretary Anand Bardhan and others.
