Deptts submit DPRs for Rs. 1,471 crore worth of earthquake repairs

VISHNU NEOPANEY
GANGTOK, 12 June: All State Government Departments, except the Social Welfare Department, have submitted Detailed Project Reports amounting to Rs. 1,471 crore for reconstruction and rebuilding of the 18 September 2011 Earthquake damage in the State.
The proposed DRPs were made against the Prime Ministers’ Relief Fund announced by the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during his post earthquake visit to Sikkim on 29 September 2011. The detailed project reports approved by the State Cabinet in different phases include the reconstruction of the Secretariat building at a cost of Rs. 193 crore. Another Rs. 324 crore has been sanctioned and approved for reconstruction and retrofitting of 13 other civil secretariats (13 department State headquarters in Gangtok).
The government has also approved construction of 7,972 earthquake damaged rural houses to the tune of Rs. 391 crore against the proposed Rs. 454 crore.
Similarly, under the Department of Roads and Bridges, the government has sanctioned and approved the renovation and rebuilding of state roads and bridges to the tune of Rs. 216 crore against the proposed Rs. 200 crore. The additional costs of Rs 16 crore has been earmarked for rebuilding and renovation of rural roads under Rural Management and Development Department.
The Department of Planning along with the Department of Disaster Management have also allocated the funds as per the DPRs prepared for other government establishments for renovation and reconstruction including retrofitting. Rs.20 crore has been earmarked for retrofitting of Sikkim Police headquarter, Sikkim Legislative Assembly, Human Resource and Development, Social Welfare, State Archives, Forest, Environment and Wildlife management and Working Women’s Hostel, Deorali.
Besides these, Rs.50 crore has been sanctioned for renovation and reconstruction of school buildings, Rs. 5 crore for ICDS centres, Rs.20 crore for Public Health Sub-Centres under Health, Human Care and Family Welfare department, Rs. 5 crore for Animal Husbandry and Livestock, Rs. 10 crore for Rural Management and Development Department, Rs.70 lakh for Paljor Stadium, Rs. 50 lakh for Food Preservation Factory at Singtam, Rs.6 crore for Urban Development and Housing Department, Rs.52.80 crore for State Power Projects and Rs.30 crore against the proposed Rs 200 crore for renovation of drinking water and sewerage systems in Sikkim.
These DPRs were sanctioned and approved as part of the long term programme of the state government under the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund. Apart from these, the state government has received Rs 270 crore for short term programmes including the rehabilitation and rescue work from the National Disaster Relief Fund.