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Himachal Pradesh: Two Years After Calamity, BJP Government Releases Insufficient Funds, Says Cong

July-August 2023 was a bumper year for natural calamities in Himachal Pradesh. Two years after, Centre releases Rs 2,006 crores for HP, but Cong Govt says demand is for Rs 9,042 crores

In July바카라August 2023, Himachal Pradesh witnessed unprecedented floods,cloud-bursts and massive landslides following torrential monsoon rains that severely disrupted road connectivity and national highways across the state.

The calamity of massive scale claimed over 550 lives and caused widespread destruction to public and private property, with estimated losses reaching Rs 9,042 crore.

Since then, the Congress-led government has been making persistent efforts to get central assistance under the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) framework for relief and rehabilitation measures for affected families, areas.

On Wednesday, the centre, on recommendations of a high power committee led by Union home minister Amit Shah decided to grant Rs 2,006.40 crore as financial assistance to Himachal Pradesh for the 바카라recovery and reconstruction바카라 measures for the losses caused by devastating floods, landslides, and other natural calamities.

As per details available with the government, of the total amount approved, Rs 1,504,80 cr will be the central share from the recovery and reconstruction funding window under the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).

Earlier during December 12, 2023, the centre had also approved an additional financial assistance of Rs 633.73 crore from the NDRF for Himachal Pradesh.

Even as the congress government has reacted cautiously saying 바카라our demand of Rs 9,042 crore was based on factual details and field data. We will stick to the proposal submitted to the centre immediately after the natural calamities.바카라

The CM바카라s principal media advisor Naresh Chauhan says, 바카라 Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji only few days back and also held a meeting with union home minister Amit Shah alongwith a team of officials. We will keep pursuing the matter, in the interests of the state and its people바카라who had suffered deaths of family members, and had turned to shelter less바카라.

State바카라s industries and parliamentary affairs minister Harshvardhan Chauhan said 바카라 we express gratitude to the centre for approving Rs 2,006 cr towards disaster restoration and relief efforts for 2023 natural calamities. Yet, will request the centre and union home minister to release the pending amount of memorandum submitted for Rs 9,042 cr바카라

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Senior officials in the state바카라s finance department, however, said they will wait for the centre바카라s notification, which will give a break-up of the approved funds and its details.   

The state government, out of its budget had already disbursed Rs Rs 4,495.43 crore in 2023 itself to tackle the catastrophe despite the state struggling with resource crunch.

Some of the worst hit districts included Kullu-Manali, Mandi, Solan and Shimla .The communication between Shimla and rest of India also remained snapped for days when Parwanoo- Shimla four-lane project also collapsed. Massive damage was also caused to the Swarghat-Ner Chowk four-lane project.

Thousands of tourists who got trapped after the floods ,landslides and rains at several locations in Manali-Kullu, Spiti and Shimla districts were safely evacuated.

The British era town of Shimla, which was declared summer capital of India in 1864 Shimla also suffered massive losses due to house collapse, fallen trees and landslides.

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A giant landslide triggered rains and cloudburst killed 20 people at Shiv Bawdi temple, resulting in the tragic death of seven members of a single family. The family, including three generations, was inside the temple for a 'havan' when the incident occurred. 

Meanwhile, BJP national president J P Nadda, who hails from Himachal Pradesh has expressed gratitude to the union government for the Rs 2,000 crore aid to Himachal Pradesh to overcome losses caused by floods and landslides in 2023.

Nadda, in a statement issued here, thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Shah for the financial aid.

He said the financial assistance is an important support to the disaster-affected citizens in dealing with the crisis and providing relief to the disaster victims.

With monsoon setting in early, Himachal Pradesh has already started preparing to respond to situation and mobilise the emergency response measures

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The India Meteorological Department (IMD), in its presentation before a high-level meeting, stressed the need for upgradation of the early warning system. The Central Water Commission has also shared data on flood forecasting and early warning systems.

바카라We are well geared-up for the monsoons and have discussed in detail all possibilities to ensure an effective response during any disaster caused by heavy rains or landslides바카라 said D.C. Rana, Director and Special Secretary (Revenue and Disaster).

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