SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir government has sought special financial package of Rs 44000 crores from centre for rehabilitation of flood-affected people and restoring the infrastructure damaged by water fury in the State.
“The State Cabinet, which met here under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, has approved the special financial package for submission to central government for providing of funds to tune of Rs 44, 000 Cr for rehabilitation of flood-affected people and rebuilding roads, bridges, and other infrastructure damaged by the floods,” an official spokesman said.
The approved proposal includes payment of ex-gratia relief against the loss of private structures to the tune of Rs 9 lakh for fully damaged Pucca house, Rs. 6 lakh for fully damaged Kucha House, Rs 4 lakh for partially damaged Kucha/Pucca House including boundary walls and Rs. 1 lakh for other structures.
In the worst-ever floods witnessed by the State last month, 281 people were killed and 15 lakh families spread over 5794 villages were affected. Many areas in Srinagar remained under water for nearly a month, causing massive damage to property including residential houses.
Surprisingly the government had recently said that State suffered damage to the tune of Rs one lakh crores in the floods.
The official spokesman said the cabinet also decided to approach Union Home Ministry for releasing Rs. 1947.20 Cr under NDRF besides requesting the Union Government to declare tax holiday for J&K for a period of 10 years to help in the revival of the State’s economy.
The cabinet also recommended to central government to issue directions to all banks/financial institutions for re-scheduling of loans/granting of moratorium and remission of interest during the moratorium period and providing of fresh loans in favour of flood affected people.
It also sought waiving of loans availed by an individual upto Rs 3 lakh and interest subvention of 5% on the loans already raised after completion of the moratorium period.
The proposal includes financial support and concessions for business community, agriculture and horticulture sector, transport sector, tourism sector, industrial sector, artisans, and other sectors.
The proposal also includes compensating the affected people for the loss of land due to flash floods and landslides @50% of the value of the land in that area
As per the initial damage assessment report prepared by the government, about 344607 structures suffered damages, 90000 cattle/sheep perished, crop loss reported in 6.52 lakh Ha of land besides heavy losses to public/private infrastructure.