CHAMLING CHAIRS COORDINATION MEETING ON EARTHQUAKE RELIEF AND REHABILITATION
“REHABILITATION WILL BE UNDERTAKEN IN CONSULTATION WITH AND UNDER THE WATCH OF THE PEOPLE”; CM TO BEGIN NORTH SIKKIM TOUR ON 25 OCT
ANAND OBEROI
GANGTOK, 12 Oct: A commitment to undertake and inspire a united effort to ‘qualitatively rebuild Sikkim’ after the destruction caused by the 18 September earthquake was the main agenda of the state level coordination meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pawan Chamling here at Chintan Bhawan today.
While reiterating that the unprecedented scale of devastation will require a collective effort of all Sikkimese, the Chief Minister also gave out a strong warning against those who were still proiritising their self-interest over the need of the State and its people to heal.
“A strong message that only ‘together we can’, and that the government alone cannot bring Sikkim back on its feet, has to reach the people. It has to be a collaborative effort, the commitment to rebuild ‘our’ Sikkim should come from within, and this is what I want the audience here to understand. No one is the boss and everyone has a role to play, this is what is the true meaning of power decentralization and devolution of power,” stressed the Chief Minister in his address.
The Chief Minister was today seen in no mood to tolerate compromises on relief and rehabilitation works and cautioned the packed house of government officials not to shirk form their responsibilities. He stressed that strict accountability will be fixed and everyone kept answerable to the people.
He commented that complains have reached him that some people entrusted with disbursement of relief and rehabilitation packages were pushing selfish interests and warned that such digressions will not be tolerated.
He reiterated that relief packages and ex-gratia payments should be disbursed at the ground level by the ground level functionaries after the authenticity of the claims has been properly scrutinized.
“I know that my government is not 100 percent correct, and that there are still people in power and in offices misusing their positions. These people forget that it is the people who have put us here and that we are public servants, not masters,” he exhorted.
Here, he added that people’s participation in rebuilding their respective areas should be given top priority by the public representatives and officials. The process, he stressed, should take the people into confidence, seek and heed their opinion and advise and launch rehabilitation as a collaborative effort.
The CM did however counter that allegations of slackness in government response to the crisis were unfounded and politically motivated. The government machinery, he stressed, began rescue and relief measures on the very night of the earthquake and has been at work ever since.
Addressing allegations that the Rs. 1,000 crore financial assistance for rehabilitation and restoration assured by the Prime Minister was being misused, the CM explained that this fund was not open to misutilisation and elaborate administrative formalities need to be fulfilled before the State receives it.
“DPRs have to be prepared and sent to the Centre for sanction and approval. There is an entire process before the funds actually come here and no one knows by when this fund will come to Sikkim. But despite these obstacles, we have worked and proved that we are in the process of effective relief and rehabilitation,” said the CM.
Here, it was informed that unlike the Central norms under which only Rs. 2 lakh was provided for reconstruction of houses in Ladakh, the State government has proposed to construct one storied houses for everyone who have lost their houses to the earthquake. This, he said, would cost between Rs. 5 to 6 lakh which the State government would spend from its state plan.
“Even this has its complications, how are we to prepare DPRs for homes which will cost Rs. 5 Lakh when Rs. 2 lakh is the maximum amount which the Centre sanctions. We will have to chalk out a different plan of approach if we are to receive this package and then there will still be comments on Facebook and other social networks that Chamling is richer by Rs. 1,000 crore,” he pointed out.
He urged that those dispensing allegations of corruption against him and running down the rebuilding process even before it has begun in earnest were doing a disservice to the State by trying to spread doubt when the affected people need reassurance and diligent action.
He announced that misuse of relief funds will not be excused, and remarked that irrespective of what his detractors might say, it was the carefully nurtured image of Sikkim in the 18 years that he has been Chief Minister which has won it the goodwill of the Centre.
“It was this goodwill and genuine concern which led the Prime Minister to visit Sikkim as soon as he returned to India. In fact, he spoke to me twice before leaving for the United States and asked whether he should visit Sikkim first? This is the image that Sikkim has created in the past 18 years and we will rise above this disaster and come out even stronger from this experience,” he shared.
He also announced today that he will be making a week-long tour of North Sikkim starting 25 October to personally meet with the affected people and sanction projects and schemes on the spot in-principle. He added that the participation of all the panchayats, Pipons, BDOs, ULBs and the general public was very important in this exercise.
“The people of Dzongu should tell me what needs to be done and what is the best way to do the works, as should the people from Chungthang, Lachen and Lachung. I need the support of the representatives, officials and the people to raise a model Sikkim from the devastation of the earthquake. Now, the people at the grassroots should be the ones supervising the works in their respective areas,” he stated.
He shared that his biggest concern now was that winter was setting in and that the cold and snow could pose a major problem for the displaced in the higher reaches of the affected areas. While informing that all essential commodities and rations have already been stocked as reserves for these areas, he said that finding proper alternative accommodation was now his biggest challenge.
“The people should tell me what they want, if it is a temporary shelter which we can get from Delhi then that can be used or if the people can negotiate the cold till they can have their pucca houses made, then that can be done as well. It is upto the people to decide what they want and the government will deliver,” he assured.
While updating the meeting on the scale of devastation, the CM informed that the loss of property alone is estimated to be above Rs. 7,425 crore. The rebuilding process, he directed, should now incorporate all ‘preventive’ and ‘precautionary’ measures keeping in mind Sikkim’s location in a seismically active zone.
“What shocks me is that 1,200 government buildings in the state have collapsed or have suffered major damage, and the scale of damage to private buildings is much lesser in comparison. The quality of supplies and works delivered by the contractors has been brought into question and is important to ensure that future works are of the highest standard. Consultation with experts on constructing earthquake resistant buildings should be made mandatory,” he commented.
He also directed the concerned authorities to look into the Kutcha House Free Sikkim mission and questioned why the 6,000 houses sanctioned by him were still pending.
“I want these houses to be made within three months and also want the DPRs of all the power supply works, water supply, building damage estimates, repair/ reconstruction of places of worship, bhawans, roads and bridges to be completed and submitted within October itself. From now on, all works will be done under the scrutiny of the local people and undertaken with their consent and under their watch since they know best about what they require. Why build a road if the people there do not require it or why build a pay and use toilet in the middle of nowhere? These are a few questions we need to deliberate on thoroughly,” he stated.
The Chief Minister declared that the Chaar-dham in South Sikkim will be inaugurated on 08 November 2011 in the presence of Shankaracharyas of all the Four Dhams. Likewise, the Buddha Park, he added, will be completed within this year.
“I want qualitative improvement in all works and the old method of construction and preparing estimates in the seclusion of office desks should be done away with. The engineers and the Secretaries should not take this personally and rise above their egos. What we want is a safer Sikkim for the future, a Sikkim which will be an exemplary state for the nation and the world in regard to disaster preparedness,” he said.
He also suggested that the concerned departments now up public consent and expert consultancy on building policies in urban areas which should be limited to three and half stories and two and half stories for the rural areas and asked the Secretary concerned to prepare a viability report immediately.
Earlier, the Chief Secretary, in his welcome address, said that the government has been very open in the relief and rehabilitation measures and has taken all possible steps to mitigate the problems faced by the earthquake victims.
“REHABILITATION WILL BE UNDERTAKEN IN CONSULTATION WITH AND UNDER THE WATCH OF THE PEOPLE”; CM TO BEGIN NORTH SIKKIM TOUR ON 25 OCT
ANAND OBEROI
GANGTOK, 12 Oct: A commitment to undertake and inspire a united effort to ‘qualitatively rebuild Sikkim’ after the destruction caused by the 18 September earthquake was the main agenda of the state level coordination meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pawan Chamling here at Chintan Bhawan today.
While reiterating that the unprecedented scale of devastation will require a collective effort of all Sikkimese, the Chief Minister also gave out a strong warning against those who were still proiritising their self-interest over the need of the State and its people to heal.
“A strong message that only ‘together we can’, and that the government alone cannot bring Sikkim back on its feet, has to reach the people. It has to be a collaborative effort, the commitment to rebuild ‘our’ Sikkim should come from within, and this is what I want the audience here to understand. No one is the boss and everyone has a role to play, this is what is the true meaning of power decentralization and devolution of power,” stressed the Chief Minister in his address.
The Chief Minister was today seen in no mood to tolerate compromises on relief and rehabilitation works and cautioned the packed house of government officials not to shirk form their responsibilities. He stressed that strict accountability will be fixed and everyone kept answerable to the people.
He commented that complains have reached him that some people entrusted with disbursement of relief and rehabilitation packages were pushing selfish interests and warned that such digressions will not be tolerated.
He reiterated that relief packages and ex-gratia payments should be disbursed at the ground level by the ground level functionaries after the authenticity of the claims has been properly scrutinized.
“I know that my government is not 100 percent correct, and that there are still people in power and in offices misusing their positions. These people forget that it is the people who have put us here and that we are public servants, not masters,” he exhorted.
Here, he added that people’s participation in rebuilding their respective areas should be given top priority by the public representatives and officials. The process, he stressed, should take the people into confidence, seek and heed their opinion and advise and launch rehabilitation as a collaborative effort.
The CM did however counter that allegations of slackness in government response to the crisis were unfounded and politically motivated. The government machinery, he stressed, began rescue and relief measures on the very night of the earthquake and has been at work ever since.
Addressing allegations that the Rs. 1,000 crore financial assistance for rehabilitation and restoration assured by the Prime Minister was being misused, the CM explained that this fund was not open to misutilisation and elaborate administrative formalities need to be fulfilled before the State receives it.
“DPRs have to be prepared and sent to the Centre for sanction and approval. There is an entire process before the funds actually come here and no one knows by when this fund will come to Sikkim. But despite these obstacles, we have worked and proved that we are in the process of effective relief and rehabilitation,” said the CM.
Here, it was informed that unlike the Central norms under which only Rs. 2 lakh was provided for reconstruction of houses in Ladakh, the State government has proposed to construct one storied houses for everyone who have lost their houses to the earthquake. This, he said, would cost between Rs. 5 to 6 lakh which the State government would spend from its state plan.
“Even this has its complications, how are we to prepare DPRs for homes which will cost Rs. 5 Lakh when Rs. 2 lakh is the maximum amount which the Centre sanctions. We will have to chalk out a different plan of approach if we are to receive this package and then there will still be comments on Facebook and other social networks that Chamling is richer by Rs. 1,000 crore,” he pointed out.
He urged that those dispensing allegations of corruption against him and running down the rebuilding process even before it has begun in earnest were doing a disservice to the State by trying to spread doubt when the affected people need reassurance and diligent action.
He announced that misuse of relief funds will not be excused, and remarked that irrespective of what his detractors might say, it was the carefully nurtured image of Sikkim in the 18 years that he has been Chief Minister which has won it the goodwill of the Centre.
“It was this goodwill and genuine concern which led the Prime Minister to visit Sikkim as soon as he returned to India. In fact, he spoke to me twice before leaving for the United States and asked whether he should visit Sikkim first? This is the image that Sikkim has created in the past 18 years and we will rise above this disaster and come out even stronger from this experience,” he shared.
He also announced today that he will be making a week-long tour of North Sikkim starting 25 October to personally meet with the affected people and sanction projects and schemes on the spot in-principle. He added that the participation of all the panchayats, Pipons, BDOs, ULBs and the general public was very important in this exercise.
“The people of Dzongu should tell me what needs to be done and what is the best way to do the works, as should the people from Chungthang, Lachen and Lachung. I need the support of the representatives, officials and the people to raise a model Sikkim from the devastation of the earthquake. Now, the people at the grassroots should be the ones supervising the works in their respective areas,” he stated.
He shared that his biggest concern now was that winter was setting in and that the cold and snow could pose a major problem for the displaced in the higher reaches of the affected areas. While informing that all essential commodities and rations have already been stocked as reserves for these areas, he said that finding proper alternative accommodation was now his biggest challenge.
“The people should tell me what they want, if it is a temporary shelter which we can get from Delhi then that can be used or if the people can negotiate the cold till they can have their pucca houses made, then that can be done as well. It is upto the people to decide what they want and the government will deliver,” he assured.
While updating the meeting on the scale of devastation, the CM informed that the loss of property alone is estimated to be above Rs. 7,425 crore. The rebuilding process, he directed, should now incorporate all ‘preventive’ and ‘precautionary’ measures keeping in mind Sikkim’s location in a seismically active zone.
“What shocks me is that 1,200 government buildings in the state have collapsed or have suffered major damage, and the scale of damage to private buildings is much lesser in comparison. The quality of supplies and works delivered by the contractors has been brought into question and is important to ensure that future works are of the highest standard. Consultation with experts on constructing earthquake resistant buildings should be made mandatory,” he commented.
He also directed the concerned authorities to look into the Kutcha House Free Sikkim mission and questioned why the 6,000 houses sanctioned by him were still pending.
“I want these houses to be made within three months and also want the DPRs of all the power supply works, water supply, building damage estimates, repair/ reconstruction of places of worship, bhawans, roads and bridges to be completed and submitted within October itself. From now on, all works will be done under the scrutiny of the local people and undertaken with their consent and under their watch since they know best about what they require. Why build a road if the people there do not require it or why build a pay and use toilet in the middle of nowhere? These are a few questions we need to deliberate on thoroughly,” he stated.
The Chief Minister declared that the Chaar-dham in South Sikkim will be inaugurated on 08 November 2011 in the presence of Shankaracharyas of all the Four Dhams. Likewise, the Buddha Park, he added, will be completed within this year.
“I want qualitative improvement in all works and the old method of construction and preparing estimates in the seclusion of office desks should be done away with. The engineers and the Secretaries should not take this personally and rise above their egos. What we want is a safer Sikkim for the future, a Sikkim which will be an exemplary state for the nation and the world in regard to disaster preparedness,” he said.
He also suggested that the concerned departments now up public consent and expert consultancy on building policies in urban areas which should be limited to three and half stories and two and half stories for the rural areas and asked the Secretary concerned to prepare a viability report immediately.
Earlier, the Chief Secretary, in his welcome address, said that the government has been very open in the relief and rehabilitation measures and has taken all possible steps to mitigate the problems faced by the earthquake victims.
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