UPA Govt clears 1300 crore aid for Sikkim

NEW DELHI. The UPA government cleared nearly Rs 1300 crore for Sikkim as financial aid from National Disaster Relief Fund. The relief package, however, falls far short of the demands made by the states. Sikkim —hit by a massive earthquake on September 18 — had sought Rs 7,400 crore from the Centre, The high-level committee, headed by finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, approved Rs 227.51 crore under National Disaster Relief Fund for Sikkim. It also noted that “assistance for permanent reconstruction and mitigation measures in respect of government buildings, mines, minerals and geology and other important infrastructure will be separately met out of Rs 1,000 crore announced by the prime minister.”

During his visit to the earthquake-hit Sikkim, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced Rs 1,000 crore as relief funds after the 6.8-magnitude tremor killed around 80 people and injured 350 others. Sikkim will also get Rs 41.64 crore from special component of national rural drinking water project.The government, will however, bear the air-bills for air-dropping of essential supplies in the state. While Sikkim government submitted a memorandum to the home ministry demanding Rs 7,400 crore, sent a letter to finance minister. Asking the Centre to release assistance from the National Disaster Response Fund at the earliest.