NEW DELHI: The Modi government has allocated more than ₹862 crore funds and ₹2700 crore for construction of roads in disaster-hit Himachal Pradesh, Union minister Anurag Singh Thakur, who represents Hamirpur in the Lok Sabha, informed on Monday.
“The Central government stands united with the people and the state government of Himachal Pradesh. We are consistently offering essential aid by closely collaborating with the state. A total of ₹662 crore has been allocated to Himachal across 3 to 4 installments,” he told reporters.
He further said: “Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sanctioned an additional ₹200 crore just yesterday (Sunday), bringing the total immediate assistance to ₹862 crore. Furthermore, ₹2700 crore has been allotted under the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojana, aimed at reconstructing the damaged roadways.”
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“Moreover, funds will also be provided for the repair of affected houses. We have assured the state government that continuous support will be extended in the future.”
Thakur, the Union minister for information & broadcasting and youth affairs & sports, is on a three-day tour of his home state of Himachal Pradesh to assess the ground situation.
The state has been grappling with heavy rains, floods, landslides, and lightning, resulting in significant loss of life and property, with over 300 lives lost.
In light of the substantial devastation in recent days, Thakur expressed his profound sadness, stating, “The loss of life and property across the entire state is truly heartbreaking. The devastation is extensive, impacting roads and infrastructure. We are currently evacuating individuals from areas at risk, relocating them to community centers and schools where provisions for food and water are being made.”
“Immediate relief measures have been instructed for implementation. We are also expediting the assessment of private and public property damage to ensure swift relief for affected citizens.”
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During his visits to Shimla, Sirmaur, and Bilaspur, Anurag Thakur engaged with affected individuals, and further journeyed through the Dharampur and Sujanpur assembly constituencies within his parliamentary jurisdiction, connecting with those affected by the disaster. Shedding light on the Centre’s extensive assistance to Himachal Pradesh,
He interacted with residents in various locations, including Tihra, Sajao Paplu, Rayur, Dharampur, Badrana, Sandhol in the Mandi district, as well as Sachuhi, Khairi, Jungle, Bagheda, Sujanpur, Patlandar, and Rangas in the Sujanpur district. The severity of the havoc caused by the fury of nature in Himachal Pradesh this monsoon cannot be underestimated, with all 12 districts of the state affected by torrential rains, floods, landslides, and cloudbursts.