By IANS
Patna : The Bihar government has sanctioned Rs.10 billion for flood victims in the state.
Over 500 people have died and 20 million affected in the floods this year, described as the worst in recent times.
Though the state government is yet to assess the widespread damage caused by the floods, which has affected 20 of its 38 districts, preliminary estimates indicate the loss could be huge.
“The state cabinet has approved Rs.10 billion to compensate the loss suffered by flood victims in the state. All the farmers would be paid compensation from the funds,” state cabinet secretary Girish Shankar said Wednesday.
Shankar said this was the largest amount sanctioned by the state government for the flood victims. The state cabinet had approved Rs.10 billion Tuesday evening from the Bihar Contingency Fund under different heads for flood relief and rehabilitation.
Official sources said Rs.1.5 billion would be paid as agriculture input subsidy to the affected farmers. Another Rs.8.5 billion would be paid as cash relief for food grains, fodder for cattle, medicines, repair and reconstruction of damaged houses and infrastructure including roads, bridges and embankments.
The marginal and small farmers would get Rs.2,000 per hectare from the state funds and Rs.2,000 per hectare from the central government’s calamity relief fund.
The state government has decided to provide compensation to rich farmers, who are not covered under the scheme, as agricultural input subsidy at the same rate but up to a maximum of Rs.8,000 per hectare.
But farmers who own less than one acre of land would get at least Rs.500 per hectare. “The payment will be made on the basis of actual land holdings after identification by local administration and panchayat representatives. The actual amount would be disbursed in the presence of the monitoring panel headed by local panchayat mukhiya (headman),” Shankar said.
The floodwaters are receding but anger against the government is spilling over in Bihar with hungry and thirsty people blocking roads and attacking officials in the last two weeks.
The floods have destroyed standing crops worth Rs.7.27 billion and damaged 521,441 houses.