Rs125 crore package for Leh; Rebuild houses before winter: PM

Prime minister Manmohan Singh today announced a Rs 125 crore relief package for the victims of the flash floods here after the devastating cloudburst and said the focus will be to build houses before the onset of harsh winter.

The prime minister, who visited some of the flood ravaged areas in and around Leh in Ladakh district, said he will come again before winter sets in towards the year end. The floods claimed the lives of around 200 persons and scores of people are still reported missing.

Singh, who was in this region for about two hours, also took stock of relief and rehabilitation undertaken in the aftermath of the natural disaster that struck 10 days ago.

"The most important thing is that before the onset of the coming winter season, houses should be built for you. What ever money is required for this, the Centre will provide all help to the state government and the Ladakh administration," he said addressing the victims of the cloudburst at a relief camp here run by Border Roads Organisation(BRO).

Besides announcing the Rs 125 crore package from the prime minister’s national relief fund, Singh said whatever money is required for rehabilitation of the only civil hospital here besides restoration of water supply and schools in Leh and Kargil, the Centre and state governments will provide "untied" funds to the Leh and Kargil autonomous hill councils.

The prime minister said a monitoring committee under the chairmanship of Jammu and Kashmir chief secretary will be
constituted to ensure effective implementation of various schemes for the affected people.

"Before the onset of winter, I will again visit you and inspect the houses that will be constructed for you," he said. 

Singh also visited the worst hit area here--Choglamsar village--where he interacted with the local population.

People handed a number of appeals to him especially on the need for rebuilding houses. 

The prime minister said he wished that the pace of the rehabilitation work in the next two and half months is fast so that the people are able to return to their normal life before the coming winter which is bone chilling at its peak.

He said a lot of lives have been lost and many children have become orphans. "People who have passed away cannot be
brought back but I want you to believe that Centre and the state government will work together for whatever that can be done for their remaining family."

Singh also held about a 30-minute long meeting with the district administration officials on the relief and rehabilitation programmes.

The prime minister was accompanied by Union health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, Union minister for new and renewable energy Farooq Abdullah and Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress
committee chief Saifuddin Soz.

Jammu and Kashmir governor NN Vohra and chief minister Omar
Abdullah received the prime minister at the airport and later were also present during Singh's Leh tour.