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Srinagar, Sep 8 (UNI) The Jammu and Kashmir Cabinet today decided to release an amount of Rs 20.66 crore, about 50 per cent of the estimated funds, for immediate relief and temporary restoration of public utilities in the state.

The Cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, reviewed the flood situation besides relief and rehabilitation measures being carried out in affected areas of the state.

Of the amount, Rs 3 crore -- Rs 2 crore for Kashmir and Rs one crore for Jammu division -- have been released for providing immediate relief to the flood-affected people.

The Cabinet also ordered the release of Rs 4.87 crore for the public health engineering sector that includes Rs 2.37 crore for Kashmir and Rs 2.5 crore for Jammu division.

It decided to release Rs 2.30 crore -- Rs 1.13 crore for Kashmir and Rs 1.17 crore for Jammu division -- for the power sector. For the flood control sector, Rs two crore each have been released for Kashmir and Jammu divisions while under roads and buildings, Rs 2 crore each have been given for the two divisions.

Rs 1.45 crore each were released to Municipal Corporations and Rs 25 lakh each under the health sector to both the divisions.

The Ministers who were assigned various districts for monitoring the situation apprised the Cabinet about the extent of flood damages and the rescue and relief measures.

In the meeting, suggestions were also made in view of the past and present experiences to prevent floods in low-lying areas and minimising the damages.

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