Government to provide land for houses: Bhujbal

Nashik, Sept 22 (UNI) Maharashtra PWD Minister and Guardian Minister of Nashik district today said the government would provide land to built temporary houses for the flood-affected people.

''The district administration will provide land to built 10 X 10, 10 X 12 sq ft metal sheet houses for the flood-affected people'', Bhujbal told reporters here.

Help of various NGOs, political parties, other organizations will be taken in this endeavour, he said adding this is a mid-term plan to provide shelter to people and as a long-term plan, efforts will be made to provide people permanent houses under JNNURM, MHADA schemes.

The government will also provide metal sheets and aid for repair of houses. For wall collapse, the amount will be Rs 2,400 whereas for house collapse, it will be Rs 4,800, Bhujbal said.

The BJP has announced Rs 20 lakh as aid whereas organizations like the Nashik Industries and Manufacturers' Association (NIMA) will create a Relief Fund. Bankers have agreed to provide immediate loans to the flood-affected. Insurance agencies have started their survey and efforts will be made to clear the insurance claims as early as possible.

He said illegal constructions in the river basin and around it will be removed. Those legal constructions, completed to the plinth level, will be served a 'stop-over' order whereas owners of those houses, which have been completed, will be made aware that they are living in the 'Danger Zone'. No new permissions should be given inside the 2008 flood-line, Bhujbal said.

Agriculture land and crops also suffered damage during the flood.

Work of registering 'Panchnamas' of this affected land has started in Niphad taluka and it will start soon in Nashik also, he added.

Panchnamas of 3,300 flood-affected families have been completed whereas 400-500 families are still left. The flood damaged 51 settlements. 211 houses were partially damaged whereas 476 houses were damaged totally. 437 shops also suffered damage. The relief operations continued on Sunday also.

The total loss due to the floods may be more than Rs 15 crore, Bhujbal said.

Meanwhile, cheques of Rs one lakh, declared as aid by the government, were given to kin of four dead people. NMC employee Nandu Palange, who saved 5 lives during the flood and his colleagues were also felicitated.

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