HP demands Rs 1580 crore from Centre

Shimla, Oct 1 (UNI) The Himachal Pradesh Government has demanded Rs 1580 crore from Centre to undertake relief works and restoration of the damages caused by recent incessant rains in the state.

A high level meeting of the senior officers of the State Government and the eight-member central team, headed by Dr Kashmir Singh, Joint Secretary, Union Ministry of Home Affairs, which is on a three day visit to state to assess the damages caused by incessant rains was held here today.

During the meeting, the Chief Secretary Asha Swaroop, who presided over the meeting, apprised the central team that state incurred a loss of about 2076 crore in terms of public and private property due to heavy rains and demanded Rs 1580 crore from Centre Government to undertake relief and restoration works on war footing.

She said that horticulture and agriculture sectors were affected severely as the produce could not be transported to the markets due to damages to roads and bridges. Diseases and pests appeared in apple orchards in fruit growing districts and extensive damage to horticulture infrastructure like poly-houses, bee-keeping units had also been caused.

She further said that many interior areas of Shimla, Sirmour, Kullu, Kinnaur, Lahaul and Spiti districts were cut off from rest of the state as a result of heavy rains. Water supply schemes, roads and other public properties in large numbers were also damaged besides communication network.

Dr Kashmir Singh assured the Chief Secretary of pleading the case of the state government effectively with the Centre Government so that maximum possible assistance could be provided to the State so that restoration of damaged infrastructure was done on war footing.

UNI XC PS MMS1846