MIzoram: Team to verify monsoon disasters

Aizawl, Dec 3: A Central team, comprising senior officials from six ministries, will visit Mizoram this month to verify the damages caused by the heavy rainfall this year across the state, official sources said here today.

State Disaster Management and Rehabilitation (DMR) secretary K Riachho said the Centre had taken initiatives towards meeting Mizoram's demand of Rs 124.11 crore for reconstruction and rehabilitation.

''We would need at least Rs 125 crore for reconstruction of roads and relief owing to damaged crops. Although we do not expect the Centre to sanction the entire amount, we expect to get a part of it after the inspection team comes and verifies the destruction for themselves,'' the secretary said.

''Presently, Rs 12.93 crore has been sanctioned under the calamity relief fund, of which, the DMR department will be urging the state government to sanction Rs 3.67 crore as compensation for crops-damage to farmers. Besides, Rs 44 lakh would be moved under a special component of the SGRY to be given to the four districts that are not yet covered by the NREG Scheme,'' Mr Riachho said.

The remaining amount - Rs 8.81 crore - had been earmarked as gratuity relief to farmers in rural areas at Rs 20 per day per adult and Rs 10 per day per child for 30 days, which would not be given in cash but in kind, in the form of rice, the official said.

Moreover, 970 tones rice had been specially sanctioned under the disaster management scheme by the Centre which would be distributed by the state Rural Development department to the disaster-affected families.

''The state govenment is grateful for the prompt action that the Centre had taken towards rehabilitaing the people,'' Mr Riachho said.

UNI