Centre clears Rs. 1,269.15 cr for earthquake rehabilitation

MORE FUNDS TO COME FOR PROJECT SPECIFIC DPRs BY INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENTS FOR RESPECTIVE MINISTRIES
GANGTOK, 15 March: The State government has been sanctioned a total of Rs. 1,269.15 crore, as of now, by the central government as package for the rebuilding and restoration measures to be undertaken in the wake of the 18 September earthquake. This also includes the Rs. 1,000 crore package announced by the Prime Minister during his Sikkim visit after the earthquake. Of this sanction, the state has received Rs. 296 crore thus far, it is informed.  The remaining amount is expected to be released with the submission of detailed project reports by the respective departments.
It is informed that the DPRs of most of the line departments have been submitted. With this formality completed, it is expected that the remaining amount, along with further funds under different schemes, will now be released in the next financial year.
Apart from the Rs. 296 crore, the state has also received Rs. 227.51 crore from the National Disaster Relief Fund (NDRF) which was sanctioned to the State to undertake immediate relief and restoration measures such as the restoration of power lines, road network, classrooms etc. Another Rs. 41.64 crore was released for restoring rural water supply infrastructure in the state.
The total amount so received as of now is against the DPR amounting to Rs. 1,471 crore put up by the state government. It is informed that departments such as PHE and others are also in the process of preparing special detailed project reports for submission to their relevant ministries in the central government for special sanction of funds. The total amount will depend on the final preparation of the DPRs and their evaluation by the central ministries.
Of the Rs. 1,000 crore sanctioned by the central government under the Prime Minister’s package and of which Rs. 96 crore has been received, Rs. 193 crore is for the rebuilding and reconstruction of the damaged Tashiling secretariat; Rs. 391 crore for rural housing woks; Rs. 216 crore for roads; Rs. 170 crore for reconstruction of damaged buildings including school and other government buildings and Rs. 30 crores for restoration and rehabilitation of drinking water supply in different areas in the state.