Punjab revises relief norms for natural calamities

Chandigarh, March 30 (UNI) In a bid to mitigate the hardships caused to the people of the state due to natural calamities, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today ordered the state government to revise the norms and rates for grant of relief for damage caused to the standing crops, houses and loss of human life.

A spokesman of the Punjab Government said the state Government had revised the relief on account of damage to mature standing or harvested crops from Rs 2000 to 5000 per acre where the loss exceeds 75 per cent, from Rs 1000 to Rs 3000 per acre where the loss exceeds 50 per cent but less than 75 per cent, and from Rs 700 to Rs 2000 per acres where the loss was between 25-50 per cent.

In the case of assistance for repair or restoration of damaged houses, the state government had also revised the rates of relief for fully damaged pucca house from Rs 10000 to Rs 20000 per house and in case of kuchcha house from Rs 6000 to Rs 12000. Likewise, severely damaged pucca and kucha house would be given relief from Rs 2000 to Rs 4000 per house and from Rs 1200 to Rs 2400 per house respectively. The state Government had also enhanced the grant of relief from Rs 800 to Rs 1600 per house for partially damaged house (where the damage is minimum 15 per cent).

The state government has also enhanced the ex-gratia payment for families of deceased persons from Rs 50000 to Rs 100000 per deceased.

An ex-gratia payment for loss of a limb or eyes had been increased from Rs 25000 to Rs 50000 per person. The gratuitous relief for loss of limb etc. should be extended only when the disability is more than 40 per cent and certified by a Government doctor from panel approved by the Government, similarly the rate of relief had also been raised from Rs 5000 to Rs 10000 per person in case of grievous injury requiring hospitalisation for more than a week.

The above norms and rates would take effect in respect of the damage caused on or after January one, 2007, the spokesman added.

UNI