Expert committee to study storage and release of dam water: CM

Mumbai, Aug 17 (UNI) Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh today said the state government will form an expert committee to study the storage and release of water from dams, in the backdrop of floods in the State for the last two consecutive years.

After the Cabinet meeting here, Mr Deshmukh told reporters that the State has been facing floods for the last two years and during the rainy season, the release of water from dams creates more problems.

He said the second spell of floods, which started from August five and affected 32 districts out of 35, have so far claimed 339 lives and 24 people were still missing, while 4.63 lakh people were evacuated to safer places in 767 camps.

He said the flood-affected people have been supplied with 24,681 quintals of food grain, consisting of jowar and rice and 1,200 kilo litres of kerosene, apart from an ex-gratia payment of Rs 18.49 crore.

The affected people would get compensation after the survey, as per the guidelines laid down during last year's floods, Mr Deshmukh said.

He also said 69 villages which were affected during the floods last year would be rehabilitated by April next year, while the Government would also chalk out a plan for a permanent rehabilitation of the villages which have been damaged heavily during this year's floods.

As many as 29 districts of the State have received more than cent per cent rainfall so far, he mentioned.

The district collectors have been given an amount, ranging from Rs two crore to Rs five crore, depending upon the damage in their area, for immediate relief.

The Chief Minister ruled out the demand made by senior BJP leader Gopinath Munde to call a special session of the Legislature to discuss the flood situation. He said the discussions were already held in monsoon session and the Government was implementing its rehabilitation plans.

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