SHIMLA: In  a move to provide much-needed relief to those affected by recent floods, cloud bursts, and landslides, the State Government has announced an enhancement in financial assistance.

Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu stated that special norms have been implemented to support families affected between 7th July and 15th July, 2023.

Under the previous relief manual, partial damage to a pucca house was compensated with Rs. 12,500, while partial damage to a kutcha house received Rs. 10,000.

However, considering the unprecedented tragedy, the government has increased the compensation to Rs. 100,000 for pucca houses and Rs. 10,000 for kutcha houses.

In the case of damage to shops and dhabas, the meager assistance of Rs. 10,000 for goods has been increased tenfold to Rs. 100,000. The compensation for tenant's belongings has doubled from Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 50,000.

Furthermore, the government has raised the compensation for silt in agricultural and horticultural land from Rs. 1,400 to Rs. 5,000 per bigha. The assistance for damage to such lands has been increased from Rs. 3,600 to Rs. 10,000 per bigha.

Farmers and gardeners facing crop damage previously received compensation ranging from Rs. 300 to Rs. 500 per bigha. However, the state government has now raised it significantly to Rs. 2,000 per bigha.

The compensation for the death of milch and draught cattle has been increased from Rs. 37,500 to Rs. 55,000 per animal. Similarly, financial assistance for the death of sheep, goats, and pigs has been raised from Rs. 4,000 to Rs. 6,000. Moreover, the government has abolished the maximum limit of 30 animals for this compensation.

Chief Minister Sukhu emphasized that the present government is committed to alleviating the suffering of disaster-affected individuals.