Mint 02.07.2013
Uttarakhand govt to ban construction along river banks
Dehradun: Imposing a blanket ban on construction
of houses and commercial establishments along the banks of rivers,
Uttarakhand chief minister Vijay Bahuguna
on Monday said a rehabilitation and reconstruction authority would be
set up to rebuild the flood-hit areas of the state even as the Centre
indicated that it would approach multilateral agencies for funds .
of houses and commercial establishments along the banks of rivers,
Uttarakhand chief minister Vijay Bahuguna
on Monday said a rehabilitation and reconstruction authority would be
set up to rebuild the flood-hit areas of the state even as the Centre
indicated that it would approach multilateral agencies for funds .
Bahuguna, who made the announcement in Dehradun at a
conference on Monday, said the decision was taken by the state cabinet
considering the massive damage caused by the calamity in different areas
across the state. “The authority will consist of experts from different
fields,” he said. The statutory body, to be chaired by the Uttarakhand
chief minister, will also take into account safeguards required in view
of challenges to be faced 100 years from now.
conference on Monday, said the decision was taken by the state cabinet
considering the massive damage caused by the calamity in different areas
across the state. “The authority will consist of experts from different
fields,” he said. The statutory body, to be chaired by the Uttarakhand
chief minister, will also take into account safeguards required in view
of challenges to be faced 100 years from now.
Rural development minister Jairam Ramesh,
who also addressed the conference, described it as a “progressive and
significant step which will inspire confidence in people”. The authority
will ensure transparency in the utilisation of large funds to be
received by the state government from the Centre and other sources in
development of the affected areas. Apart from a package of Rs.1,000 crore announced by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for reconstruction and rebuilding efforts, Rs.2,500 to 3,000 crore more is expected from the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank for the purpose, Ramesh said.
who also addressed the conference, described it as a “progressive and
significant step which will inspire confidence in people”. The authority
will ensure transparency in the utilisation of large funds to be
received by the state government from the Centre and other sources in
development of the affected areas. Apart from a package of Rs.1,000 crore announced by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for reconstruction and rebuilding efforts, Rs.2,500 to 3,000 crore more is expected from the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank for the purpose, Ramesh said.
Separately, finance minister P. Chidambaram
said funds will not be a constraint for rebuilding the mountainous
state. “We are trying to develop a (financial) package for
rehabilitation and reconstruction for which we will go to multilateral
bodies, like we did in the tsunami case,” Chidambaram told PTI.
said funds will not be a constraint for rebuilding the mountainous
state. “We are trying to develop a (financial) package for
rehabilitation and reconstruction for which we will go to multilateral
bodies, like we did in the tsunami case,” Chidambaram told PTI.
“Prime Minister has already announced Rs.1,000 crore. Different ministries are using their own funds. Tourism has announced Rs.100 crore. Funds will not be a constraint. I have said it on the first day,” the minister said.
Besides seeking aid from multilateral agencies, the
government will soon sent a joint team of finance ministry and home
ministry to discuss with Uttarakhand state officials the redevelopment
plan for the calamity-hit state. “What I have approved is that a team
from the finance ministry and home ministry will go to Uttarakhand to
sit (and discuss) with Uttarakhand government officers,” Chidambaram
said.
government will soon sent a joint team of finance ministry and home
ministry to discuss with Uttarakhand state officials the redevelopment
plan for the calamity-hit state. “What I have approved is that a team
from the finance ministry and home ministry will go to Uttarakhand to
sit (and discuss) with Uttarakhand government officers,” Chidambaram
said.
In view of the gravity of the situation, Singh had last month announced financial support of Rs.1,000 crore to Uttarakhand for disaster relief, of which Rs.145 crore was released immediately. Singh had also announced ex-gratia assistance of Rs.2 lakh each to families of those who had lost their lives and Rs.50,000
each to the injured, from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund
(PMNRF). The government had also decided to provide from the PMNRF, an
ex-gratia assistance of Rs.1 lakh each to those whose houses have been completely destroyed and Rs.50,000 each to those whose houses have been damaged.
each to the injured, from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund
(PMNRF). The government had also decided to provide from the PMNRF, an
ex-gratia assistance of Rs.1 lakh each to those whose houses have been completely destroyed and Rs.50,000 each to those whose houses have been damaged.
