Centre should grant Rs 9,822 cr rehabilitation package for Bihar:CM

Patna, Sep 13 (UNI) Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today said the Centre should grant rehabilitation package of Rs 9,822 crore for flood-ravaged areas of north Bihar.

Mr Kumar told reporters here that he had personally met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to demand the rehabilitation package for the flood-ravaged areas of north Bihar as a huge fund was needed to reconstruct the houses, roads and other infrastructure, damaged in devastating flood after breach in the Kosi embankment on August 18.

''An estimated Rs 1.5 lakh each is required to reconstruct the house damaged in flood as cost of bricks, cement and other construction materials has increased considerably during the past few days,'' Mr Kumar said adding the relief package given by the Prime Minister could only be utilised in distributing relief among the flood victims.

When Asked, Mr Kumar said the Centre had also constituted a committee, headed by the Chairman of Central Water Commission, besides the judicial commission constituted by the Bihar government on the issues relating to breach in the Kosi embankment on August 18.

A decision would be taken within four to five days to enable that all the investigating committees would not have to do the duplication while discharging its duties, he said adding an expert inquiry committee, headed by a retired engineer of the Bihar government, would also investigate the matter.

UNI KKS SJC LS AS2135