PM approves Rs.426.83 crore for Jammu and Kashmir flood relief

Jammu, Feb 25 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday approved financial aid of Rs.426.83 crore from his relief fund for assistance to the owners of severely and partially damaged houses during last year's devastating floods in Jammu and Kashmir.

A Raj Bhavan spokesman said here Wednesday: "This aid will benefit the 1.87 lakh owners of houses damaged in the floods."

"The prime minister had earlier announced PMNRF (Prime Minister's National Relief Fund) relief of Rs.100,000 and Rs.50,000 (respectively) to each of the affected families whose pucca/kutcha house had been fully damaged.

"The financial assistance now approved by the prime minister envisages an additional assistance of rupees 50,000 for severely damaged pucca house, Rs.25,000 for partially damaged pucca house, Rs.10,000 for severely damaged kutcha house and Rs.5,000 for partially damaged kutcha house.

"Owners of 30,933 severely damaged pucca houses involving an amount of Rs.154.66 crore and 93,024 partially damaged houses involving an amount of Rs.232.56 crore will get benefited.

"Also, owners of 15,832 severely damaged kutcha houses involving an amount of Rs.15.83 crore and 47,550 partially damaged houses involving an amount of Rs.23.77 crore will get benefited.

"State Governor N.N. Vohra has expressed gratitude to the union home minister and the prime minister for approving additional PMNRF relief of Rs.426.83 crore for assisting the flood affected families.

"The governor had met the union home minister and the prime minister last month and sought early sanction of additional relief.

"Pertinent to recall that Rs.115.81 crore PMNRF relief has already been disbursed to 16,748 beneficiaries in respect of fully damaged pucca and kutcha houses in pursuance of the announcement made by prime minister when he visited Srinagar on Diwali day."