Jammu, Oct 6: After getting nod from the Central Government, the Union Territory (UT) administration has set the process in motion for allotment of houses under Prime Minister’s Awas Yojana (PMAY) to those whose houses were fully damaged in flash floods and landslides triggered by heavy rains in Jammu and Kashmir even as the relief under SDRF norms has been distributed to the affected people.
Officials told the Excelsior that the administration has received details of almost all over 5000 persons whose houses were fully damaged in floods and has started uploading their particulars on AwaasSoft portal along with requisite documents, which have been furnished by the concerned Deputy Commissioners.
“We are expecting sanction of the houses in the maximum 10 days time,” they said, adding the beneficiaries will get Rs 50,000 in first installment, Rs 70,000 in second installment and Rs 10,000 in third and final installment. Besides there is a provision of Rs 12,000 under household latrine and Rs 20,000 under MGNREGA taking total amount for every beneficiary to Rs 1.60 lakh.
Majority of the damaged houses are in Jammu division. However, few houses have suffered damages in some districts of the Kashmir valley. Total damaged houses are 5061. Figures are based on the data furnished by the concerned Deputy Commissioners, the officials said.
Few Days back, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha had announced that the Central Government has sanctioned over 5000 houses under PMAY in Jammu and Kashmir.
“The administration is engaged in uploading data pertaining to the owners of damaged houses including their ration and Aadhaar cards. As soon as the formalities are completed, authorities are expecting sanction from the Government,” the officials said.
During his visit to Jammu to assess damages caused by the floods, Union Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development Department Shivraj Singh Chouhan had assured construction of houses damaged by floods under the PMAY.
Officials said the relief under SDRF norms has already been released by the concerned Deputy Commissioners. The SDRF norms cover deaths, injuries, damage to houses, structures, loss of cattle heads etc.
However, the relief under SDRF norms is very nominal.
Officials disclosed that department-wise damages caused by the floods have been submitted to the UT administration as well as the Central Government.
Besides 5000 houses, 3237 kilometer roads and 70 bridges were very badly damaged in the floods.
Sources said the assessment of damages caused to crops, land and other private property has also been completed. In addition, the damage caused to Government infrastructure has also been assessed and comprehensive document has been prepared and sent to the Central Government.
The UT has been anticipating comprehensive package from the Central Government on the lines of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand-even more than that as casualties and damages in Jammu appeared to be more than the three States, the officials said, adding if the package is sanctioned compensation given to civilians under the SDRF norms for their different kind of losses can be increased significantly.
A private body from Kerala has also assured construction of 1500 houses for the flood-affected people. Every house will have three rooms and will be constructed at the cost of Rs 9 lakh. The body is expected to start its work this month.
There have been two types of damages to the Government infrastructure. One, the infrastructure, which has to be re-constructed/repaired by the Central Government agencies like National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and Border Roads Organisation (BRO) etc and second, the roads, bridges, nullahs, lanes, by lanes etc which are responsibility of the Government.
A large number of houses, shops have been damaged-either completely or partially while crops and even fields and lands have been washed away at many places causing immense losses to the people including farmers.
Nearly 100 people, mostly pilgrims of Shri Machail Mata Ji shrine, were killed (dead and missing) at Chashoti in a flash flood in Kishtwar district on August 14. Thirty four pilgrims of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji shrine were killed in landslides at Adh Kunwari on August 26 leading to suspension of the pilgrimage for many days.
Sources said taking into account the number of about 30 persons missing in Chashoti (Kishtwar) flash floods and presuming them as dead, the total death toll in Jammu floods and landslides appeared to be around 180.
