HP Assembly demands assistance of Rs 1,000 crore from Centre

Shimla, Sept 02 (UNI) The Himachal Pradesh Assembly today unanimously adopted a resolution, demanding immediate central assistance of Rs 1000 crore to mitigate the damages caused by unprecedented rain and flash floods in the state.

Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, who moved the resolution, said that excessive rainfall had caused heavy destruction but the Union government had not released any assistance to the state so far.

He said the Government had been collecting reports of damage from all district headquarters daily and till today the loss of property had been assessed at Rs 1149 crore, besides the loss of 37 human lives and about 100 cattleheads.

He said the state Government had released Rs 105.70 crore from its own relief fund and the Central Government's assurance to give Rs 30 crore, which was yet to be released by it, was very meager in view of the net loss in the flash flood.

As many 16 members from treasury and opposition benches took part in the three-hour long discussion. Among them were Mr G S Bali (Cong), Mr Mohinder Singh, Mr Suresh Bhardwaj and Mr Randhir Sharma (all BJP).

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