Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Sukhu Announces Rs 4,500 Crore Relief Package For Monsoon Devastation

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Saturday announced a Rs 4,500-crore relief package for the devastation in the state during the monsoon.

The relief package includes Rs 3,500 crore as a special package and an allocation of Rs 1,000 crore under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

Earlier this year, Himachal witnessed widespread devastation from unprecedented rainfall and flooding that caused a string of rain-related incidents such as landslides, mudslides, and cloudbursts. Over 400 people were killed and around 3,500 houses were completely damaged. 

The allocation under MGNREGA would be specifically used for the construction of retaining walls of buildings. 

The duration that the disaster relief package would cover is between July 7 and September 30. During this period, over 400 people were killed in rain-related incidents and Sukhu has said that the state has suffered devastation estimated to be around Rs 12,000 crore. Earlier on Thursday, he asked the Union government to immediately release Rs 1,500-2,000 crore for the aid of the state. 

Sukhu said aid from the package will be given irrespective of any income limit to all the affected people who have suffered damages to houses or crops.

The state capital Shimla also suffered damages from a string of rain-related incidents like landslides and mudslides in which dozens were killed and several houses and neighbourhoods were swept away in soil and land erosion for incessant rainfall. 

Sukhu said that around 3,500 houses were completely destroyed and around 13,000 were partially damaged in the rain-related incidents, reported PTI. 

Sukhu further said that his government has so far spent Rs 1,850 crore from state own funds for the temporary restoration of services and another tranche of Rs 1,051 crore would be released soon.