The Punjab government will give Rs 1.80 lakh each, reportedly the highest ever, compensation to 30,000 people for their houses damaged in recent floods before December 5, The Indian Express has learnt.
“Of the Rs 1.80 lakh, Rs 1.20 lakh will be given under the Pardhan Mantri Aawas Yojana (PMAY), and Rs 60,000 under the assured employment scheme MGNREGA towards the labour and reconstruction of the house, which will also act as an assured employment for house owners or the beneficiaries of the scheme,” said a senior government officer.
The government said as many as 35,000 claims were received, of which 30,000 people were selected for compensation that would be distributed through cheques at a mega state-level function organised before the Zila Parishad and Block Samiti elections.
As per provisions under the State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF) rule, a compensation ranging from Rs 40,000 to Rs 1.20 lakh is to be given as compensation for damaged houses, depending on the magnitude of the loss. Sources said when the state was declared “severely hit” by the floods, the state government had initially sought from the Centre a compensation of Rs 1.20 lakh each for damaged houses irrespective of their extent.
Earlier, the state government had pegged the loss at Rs 12,905 crore for the damage caused by floods. However, the government claimed that it had as yet not received compensation.
The Rural Development and Panchayat Department reported the heaviest toll and pegged damage at Rs 3,554 crore. The Revenue Department, which is dealing with crop losses, degraded farmland and destroyed homes, raised a demand of Rs 2,782 crore.
The education sector, which reported damages to 7,213 schools, 153 block primary offices and 19 colleges, sought Rs 547 crore for partial and complete structural damage. The Health Department sought Rs 780 crore for wrecked dispensaries, hospitals, equipment and widespread damage to health infrastructure, disruption of services, and significant loss of medical supplies in flood-affected districts.
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The Animal Husbandry Department claimed that 1,371 buffaloes and milch cows, 1.75 lakh poultry, and other livestock perished, and sought Rs 129 crore.
The Public Works Department (PWD) demanded Rs 1,970 crore to restore 4,657.83 km of roads and bridges, stating the road infrastructure across the state needed urgent repairs as planned roads suffered the highest loss, followed by Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna, link roads and national highways.
The Mandi Board sought Rs 1,022 crore to repair 3867.63 km of rural-link roads (pucca and kutcha). The Water Resources Department, citing climate change-driven damage to canals and rivers, sought Rs 1,520 crore for long-term flood mitigation. The Agriculture Department sought Rs 367 crore for desilting, field restoration under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), procurement and distribution of seeds.
The Food and Supplies Department demanded Rs 7 crore for damaged warehouses. The Power Department sought Rs 139 crore for hydel projects and electrical infrastructure. The Local Bodies Department demanded Rs 77 crore, and the Forest Department Rs 4 crore.
