SHILLONG, Sept 13: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Tuesday said the government is proposing to park some funds with the respective deputy commissioners (DCs) to provide immediate relief to houses damaged by natural calamities.
In his supplementary reply, Sangma informed that the issue regarding the natural calamity was also discussed during the recently held deputy commissioners’ conference.
“In that meeting we came to a conclusion that apart from Rs 25 lakh for general relief, there is need for some funds to be parked with the DCs when it comes to houses damaged by natural calamities as people cannot wait for the long process,” he said.
“(Therefore), the matter is being considered and (we) are trying to figure out on how to put the procedure in place so that specific funds can be kept (with the DCs),” Sangma added.
According to him, it is not fair for people to wait for 2-4 years to get the relief for their houses.
Earlier, Minister in-charge Revenue & Disaster Management Kyrmen Shylla informed that a total of 187 households had suffered due to damages from natural calamities in April, this year under Bhoirymbong block.
The total amount of loss reported was to the tune of Rs 13.94 lakh out of which Rs 8.79 lakh has already been released and Rs 5.15 lakh is due for payment to the affected households, he said.
When Umroi legislator George B Lyngdoh sought to know as to when the amount pending will be released, Shylla said, “We are waiting for the next meeting for releasing the balance amount of Rs 5.15 lakh.”
On the other hand, Mawsynram legislator Himalaya Shangpliang expressed concern over the delay in releasing the relief to the people affected by the natural calamity. He said more than 200 names were forwarded by the BDO of Mawsynram to the disaster management but fund is yet to be received.
“I request the minister to look into the matter and ensure that money released to the district are released to the blocks as people are expecting some relief,” he said.
In his reply, Shylla said Rs 1.36 crore has been released for East Khasi Hills district alone. “And till date Rs 50.20 crore was released to the respective deputy commissioners for those affected by natural calamities,” he informed.
