Srinagar: The District Level Screening Committee cum inter-departmental committee(s) constituted by the District Administration, Srinagar has approved an assistance of Rs 38.20 Lakh in cases of houses damaged due to recent heavy snowfall; assistance to affected families, reconstruction aid and also restoration and upgradation of power distribution stations as well as school buildings.
It was revealed in a meeting chaired by Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, Shahid Choudhary. The meeting was also attended by Sr Superintendent of Police, Srinagar, Addl Deputy Commissioner, Jt Director Planning, Jt Commissioner SMC, District Disaster Management Officer, Superintending Engineers of KPDCL, PHE, PWD, district officers and Tehsildars and other members.
A government communiqué reaching here said that an amount of Rs 40.23 Lakh was sanctioned in cases of houses damaged due to heavy snowfall which included 09 houses fully damaged, 6 partially damaged, 7 sheds and a number of roof-tops damaged during the heavy snowfall. The sanctioned amount was released to the respective Tehsils for crediting to the accounts of affected families, including Rs 3.84 Lakh in Tehsil Shalteng, Rs 4.35 Lakh in Tehsil South, Rs 3.27 Lakh in tehsil North, Rs 2.76 Lakh in Tehsil Chanapora, Rs 3.97 Lakh in Tehsil Eidgah, Rs 7.80 Lakh in Tehsil Khanyar and Rs 8.15 Lakh in Tehsil Panthachowk. An amount of Rs 6 Lakh was also released in favour of families having suffered various damages during the snowfall. The assistance was being credited to the accounts of families through DBT, the communiqué said.
Meanwhile, the DLSC also approved the replacement and upgradation of 25 transformers in various areas of Tehsils Khanyar, Eidgah, Shalteng, South, North, Chanapora and Panthachowk falling under different divisions of power department in view of replacement necessitated. This will augment the power supply in concerned areas and offer the required relief in view of increased consumption. Tehsildars were asked to facilitate concerned Executive Engineers for suitable locations for replacement and installation of distribution transformers. In view of various transformers damaged due to accumulated snow falling from rooftops the department will be earmarking alternate locations.
The DLSC also sanctioned restoration of 7 school buildings damaged in snowfall and asked the Education Department to conduct an assessment viz a viz safety of all the school buildings in Srinagar. SMC was asked to ensure that structural safety is monitored as per approved building permissions taking into account safety norms as a large number of roof tops damaged during the snowfall were found to be not constructed as per norms.
Meanwhile, the district administration also sanctioned relief and compensation amounts in favour of families affected in the recent fire incidents in the district. The relief amounts will be in addition to the immediate assistance in the form of household items provided to the affected families.
The administration has also issued directions for providing housing assistance for reconstruction in cases where the affected houses were damaged fully.
Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary sanctioned the relief in a meeting – convened here Tuesday under his chairmanship – of concerned officers including among others ADC Srinagar Dr Syed Haneef Balkhi, JD Planning Mohammad Yaseen Lone, ACR Srinagar Rour-ur-Rehman and Tehsildars concerned.
It is notable that 23 structures were damaged and 44 families affected in 8 different fire incidents reported at Gandarpora, Nawakadal, Zadibal, Allochibagh, Habbakadal, Wattalkadal, Nadpora, Chanpora and Panthachowk.
A government communiqué said that after the assessment of losses in these incidents, the DC Srinagar sanctioned an assistance of Rs 30 lakh in favour of affected families. The amount includes Rs 1 lakh each for restoration of damaged structures, Rs 3000-4000 assistance for kitchen items, Rs 5000 cash assistance, Rs 10000-15000 each for subsistence expenses in view of the harsh weather conditions.
