Over 400 crore disbursed as eathquake relief in J and K

Jammu Mar 15 (UNI) About 1.50 lakh houses were damaged in the devastating earthquake of october eight, last year in jammu and Kashmir and Rs 400 crores have been disburesed as relief to affected people so far.

This was announced by the state government in the Legislative Assembly today in reply to the questions asked in this regard. A total of 964 people were killed in the natural calamity, which damaged 26,177 houses fully and 1,23,180 partially, the Assembly was informed.

The Minister incharge for Revenue and Rehabiliation Mangat Ram Sharma said the Baramullah district was the most affected, in which 672 people were killed and about 15000 and 39373 houses damaged fully and partially respectively. In Kupwara 272 people were reportedly killed and 9305 houses damaged fully and 55076 as partially. Poonch district reported 10 people deaths and total number of 8072 house damaged fully or partially. In Udhampur casualty of four peoples was reoported, whereas in srinagar and Doda two and Budgam, Jammu one death due to quake was reported, he added.

However, there was no casualty reported from Anantnag, Pulwama, Rajouri, Kathua districts but these as well as Srinagar, Budgam, Doda, Udhampur and Jammu districts witnessed a lot of damage to property and about 700 and 21850 houses were damaged fully or partially, the minister said.

Mr Sharma told the house a compensation Rs 50,000 to those dead, in case of injury Rs. 5,000, for fully danaged house Rs one lakhs one to Rs 30,000 for partially damaged houses as per damage.

So far about Rs 400 crores have been released for disbursement of relief and compensation. Out of this Rs 342 crores were released by Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir and Rs 35.20 crores by Divisional Commissioner, Jammu and rest of the amount was released by Public Health and Engineering, Roads and Bridges, Health and PDD Departments, he added.

Earlier, the house witnessed uproarious scenes by the main opposition national Conference members who alleged irregularities in the disbursement of relief and compensation.

UNI RKS YA BST1518