State suffered losses worth Rs. 787.47 crore during rainy season
Vijyender Sharma
SHIMLA--- Tough topographical conditions and unprecedented rain and snow make Himachal Pradesh vulnerable to various disasters like cloud burst, landslides and avalanches which required various preventive measures. This was revealed by Additional Chief Secretary, Revenue Shri Tarun Shridhar in a meeting held here last evening with the Central Government team in Himachal to take stock of losses occurred in the State due to floods and other disasters.
Shri Tarun Shridhar informed that State had occurred accumulated losses of Rs. 787.47 crore due to flash floods during rainy season this year. Loss of Rs. 404.72 crore had been reported due to damage caused to roads and bridges alone. As many as 5307 IPH schemes were completely or partially damaged, occurring losses of Rs. 214.52 crore, Rs. 32.15 crore losses had been caused to HPSEB, besides losses of public and private assets worth Rs. 2.55 crore. Tomato crop and apple orchards were also damaged, he added.
He said that despite limited resources, the State Government restored all the roads, IPH schemes and electricity on war footing. He also reiterated that one of the major rescue operations of the country was conducted at Bilaspur tunnel where two persons were rescued after 15 days.
Additional Chief Secretary, Tourism, Tribal Development and IPR Shri V.C. Pharka said that Government of India sanctioned funds on the basis of area and population not on vulnerability of disasters. He said vulnerability should be given weightage, as Himachal had different topography and climatic conditions.
Additional Chief Secretary, PWD, Shri Narender Chauhan said that drainage and maintenance of roads was very essential and Government was spending huge money on it. He said accidents were more fatal in Himachal as compared to any other States in the country. Hence the State Government was providing utmost priority in improving the road conditions and there was a liability of Rs. 300 crore for the same.
Joint Secretary (Security), Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India Shri V. Shashank Shekhar said that their team visited various flood prone and affected areas of the State. He said roads had suffered major losses. He asked for showing the rescue operations expenditure also.
Divisional Commissioner Dr. R.N. Batta, Secretary, Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Shri Onkar Sharma, Shri Priyatu Mandal, Director, Food and Civil Supplies and consumer Affairs Special Secretary, Disaster Management Shri D.D. Sharma, Deputy Commissioner, Kangra Shri Ritish Chauhan, Deputy Commissioner Una Shri Abhishek Jain, officers of IPH, PWD and Revenue Departments besides officers of central Government were also present in the meeting.
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