Final phase of ex-gratia distribution underway for East district

30 APRIL LAST DATE FOR COLLECTING EX-GRATIA
GANGTOK, 18 April: East District administration started the third and final phase of ex-gratia payment for houses damaged in the 18 September 2011 earthquake. The process is being handled through BDOs and the Gangtok Municipal Corporation in the district and began on 16 April. The DAC has appealed to the people in the final list to collect their ex-gratia payment by 30 April, stressing that no payment will be released after that date.
Addressing a press conference today, District Collector [East], D Anandan mentioned that the third and final survey was conducted in the month of January of the left out houses from the second phase and few complaints in segregation in damages in the last phase were also looked into. He added that some complaints were found genuine and were upgraded to higher damaged category.
The third and final phase survey covered 13,821 houses in East Sikkim and allocated Rs 8.17 crore towards ex-gratia payments.
The first phase covered 409 houses and an amount of Rs 1.10 crore was paid as ex-gratia, while the second phase covered 21,104 houses and payment of Rs 16 crore was made in East Sikkim.
The DC informed that a total of 35,334 houses were covered in three phases in East Sikkim and a total of Rs 25.27 crore has been paid as ex-gratia.
The third phase survey covered 1,055 houses in Martam, 1,816 in Gangtok, 741 in Duga, 720 in Rakdong-Tintek, 542 in Khamdong, 281 in Parakha, 1426 in Rhenock, 479 in Ranka, 1673 in Pakyong, 1365 in Regu, 358 in Kabi-Tingda and 3365 in GMC in East Sikkim.
The DC informed that the necessary funds have already been provided to the respective BDOs and GMC officials for ex-gratia payments. He further informed that the concerned officials will also be present in the disbursement centres to identify the genuine person. The beneficiary needs to present a photo identity at the centre to collect the ex-gratia and collection on behalf of someone will not be allowed except in special cases. The DC stressed that the payments will be made only till 30 April after which no further payments would be made.
He informed that the government has decided to reconstruct the totally collapsed houses in the rural area and for the same the RMDD has also made certain guidelines. Following the approval of these guidelines by the government, the works will be taken up immediately in the rural areas.