Various delegations from the Seraj Assembly constituency in Mandi district met Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu at his official residence, Oak Over, on Monday.
The delegations, led by Seraj Block Congress president Jagdish Reddy, held detailed discussions on various development-related issues concerning the region. They also invited the Chief Minister to visit the Seraj Assembly constituency.
The Chief Minister said the state government was committed to ensuring balanced and equitable development across all regions of Himachal Pradesh. He announced financial assistance for the maintenance and strengthening of several roads in the Seraj Assembly constituency. These include Rs 10 lakh for the Nauna-Chhalaila-Vinidhar road, Rs 20 lakh for the Balichowki-Khloa-Sharsh road, Rs 10 lakh for the Nauna-Bharari road, Rs 10 lakh for the Khanethi-Khoohan road and Rs 10 lakh for the Hanogi-Shaloi-Chhamar road.
Sukhu said that, owing to the sustained efforts of the state government, financial assistance of Rs 137.40 crore had been approved for widening the Chail Chowk-Janjehli road. In view of the extensive damage caused during the disaster, and with the aim of further strengthening connectivity in Mandi district, the state government prioritised this 83-km-long road project and submitted it under the Central Road and Infrastructure Fund. He said the completion of the project would boost the social and economic development of the region.
The Chief Minister said the Seraj Assembly constituency had suffered extensive damage during the disaster and that he had personally visited the affected areas to assess the situation. He said the government had extended maximum possible assistance to the affected families. He further stated that, for the first time in the country, the government had substantially enhanced disaster relief assistance from its own resources.
Sukhu said the state government had decided to provide unprecedented support to disaster-affected families through a special relief package. Under this package, compensation for fully damaged houses had been increased from Rs 1.30 lakh to Rs 7 lakh. Including other forms of assistance, affected families are being provided financial support of up to Rs 8 lakh.
Likewise, compensation for the loss of household belongings had been increased from Rs 2,500 to Rs 1 lakh for homeowners and Rs 50,000 for tenants. Financial assistance of Rs 1 lakh has also been fixed for partially damaged kutcha and pucca houses.
Sukhu said that earlier there was no provision for compensation for damage to polyhouses or for the removal of debris and silt from houses. However, the present government introduced assistance of Rs 25,000 for damage to polyhouses and Rs 50,000 for debris or silt removal.
He added that compensation for livestock losses had also been significantly enhanced. A provision had been made for assistance of Rs 55,000 in case of the death of a cow and Rs 9,000 in case of the death of a sheep or goat. Additionally, a provision had been made for extra assistance of Rs 50,000 for the reconstruction of cowsheds.
Reddy thanked the Chief Minister for liberally providing funds for roads in the region and said the area was receiving unprecedented support and resources for development during the tenure of the present state government.
Also read: Sukhu targets Centre over NEET paper leak
Follow us
