August 29, 2007 Faced with floods that affected over 20 million people, the
Bihar government has sanctioned a whopping sum of Rs 1,000 crore to compensate
the losses suffered by flood victims in the state.
All farmers, including rich, marginal and small, will be given compensation
from the funds.
Cabinet Secretary Girish Shankar said on Wednesday that this was the largest
fund for relief and rehabilitation for the victims of natural disaster in Bihar.
"The state cabinet has approved Rs 1,000 crore from the Bihar Contingency
Fund under different heads for flood relief and rehabilitation," Shankar said.
According to him, so far a total sum of Rs 1,302.59 crore has been sanctioned
for the disaster victims this fiscal against the Budget allocation of Rs 102
crore under this head, he said.
The government has also sanctioned a sum of Rs 200 crore as disaster
compensation fund in advance.
Official sources said that Rs 150 crore of Rs 1,000 crore would be used to
provide agricultural input subsidies to affected farmers.
Another Rs 850 crore would be used to provide cash relief, foodgrains, fodder
for cattle, medicines, repair and reconstruction of damaged houses and
infrastructure including roads, bridges and embankments.
The affected marginal and small farmers would get Rs 2,000 per hectare from
the state funds and Rs 2,000 per hectare from the Centre's Calamity Relief Fund.
"The state government has decided to provide compensation to bigger or rich
farmers, who are not covered under the scheme as agricultural input subsidies
at the same rate but upto a maximum of Rs 8,000," Shankar said.
However, farmers who own less than one acre of land will get at least Rs 500 .
"The payment will be made on the basis of actual land holdings after
identification by local administration and panchayat representatives. The
actual distribution of money will be done in the presence of the monitoring
panel headed by local panchyat mukhiya," Shankar said.
Official sources in the state government said the total deaths in the current
floods crossed the 520 mark on Wednesday.
Over 20.5 million people in 9,939 villages under 225 blocks spread in 20
districts were affected by floods.
The floods destroyed standing crops worth Rs 727.82 crore in 15.88 lakh
hectares and damaged 5,21,441 houses.
http://im.rediff.com/news/2007/aug/29efloods.htm
Flood-hit Bihar seeks 1000 crore assistance
By: PTI
August 27, 2008
With flood situation in Bihar turning grim, state Chief Minister Nitish Kumar
today met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and sought central assistance of Rs
1,000 crore and one lakh tonnes of foodgrain immediately for the affected
people.
After meeting Singh, Kumar told reporters here that "the Prime Minister has
assured me all help.
"I am confident of getting full support of the central government."
"I requested the PM to give the state a relief package of Rs 1,000 crore and
one lakh tonnes of foodgrain, preferably rice, to be distributed among the
flood victims", Kumar said adding the PM will be carrying out an aerial survey
of the flood-hit areas in Bihar tomorrow.
Pointing out that evacuation of marooned people stuck is on the top of his
government's agenda, Kumar feared that the situation could turn worse in the
months to come when the Kosi river releases more water.
Kumar also sought boats and tents in large numbers from the Centre to evacuate
the flood victims and shelter them in safer areas.
"People in the worst-affected areas need to be evacuated early.
The evacuated people may have to be kept in safer areas for a period of two to
six months, which require a huge expenditure", the Chief Minister said.
Kumar said the number of affected people currently is 11 lakh, which can go up
to 25 lakh if there is a further rise in the water level of Koshi, as has been
the trend during September-October.
The government is currently estimating to keep 10 to 15 lakh people in tents,
he said.
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