Team Herald
PANJIIM: With the monsoon fury leaving many areas across the State inundated resulting in rain-related mishaps; Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said the government has submitted estimated loss to the Centre for financial assistance.
He has assured the affected people that government is likely to release compensation from August 25, before the Ganesh Chaturthi festival.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of Independence Day function on Thursday, Sawant said that District Collectors in the North and South have been asked to submit detailed report on the loss caused due to the floods, in their respective districts, by August 20.
“We will be able to ascertain the loss only after receiving reports from both the district collectors. At present we don’t even have the rough estimates. We have submitted an estimated loss to the Centre for financial help so that rehabilitation of people in the flood affected villages can begin,” he said. The actual loss, he added, will be ascertained after the receipt of the reports following which the Centre would be updated.
Sawant, who has been regularly monitoring the situation, assured the State that the government will also contribute towards the rehabilitation and restoration through its own funds. He appealed the general public to contribute any amount to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund and added that the flood situation in these areas has eased but restoration work can be taken up after the intensity of the rains reduces.
“The State government is also pitching in to give minimum primary help to the people and we are likely to distribute cheques to the affected people from August 25,” he added.
Union Minister Shripad Naik, last Saturday, had said he was expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to seek financial relief from the Centre for the people of Goa affected due to flooding. Claiming that large tracks of farms and houses have been damaged following a high level meeting with North Collector R Menaka, he had estimated minimum loss of Rs 10 crore.
Four talukas – Tiswadi, Pernem, Bardez and Bicholim have been largely affected. Naik has contributed Rs 50 lakh from the MPLAD funds towards the relief package while Minister Michael Lobo has contributed Rs 5 lakh from his salary towards CM’s Relief Fund.
