PM Modi approves Rs 426.83 crore for J&K flood relief

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday approved financial aid of Rs 426.83 crore from his relief fund for assistance to the owners of severely and partially damaged houses during last year’s devastating floods in Jammu and Kashmir.

A Raj Bhavan spokesman said, “This aid will benefit the 1.87 lakh owners of houses damaged in the floods.”

“The prime minister had earlier announced PMNRF (Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund) relief of Rs 100,000 and Rs 50,000 (respectively) to each of the affected families whose pucca/kutcha house had been fully damaged.

“The financial assistance now approved by the prime minister envisages an additional assistance of rupees 50,000 for severely damaged pucca house, Rs 25,000 for partially damaged pucca house, Rs 10,000 for severely damaged kutcha house and Rs 5,000 for partially damaged kutcha house.

“Owners of 30,933 severely damaged pucca houses involving an amount of Rs 154.66 crore and 93,024 partially damaged houses involving an amount of Rs 232.56 crore will get benefited.

“Also, owners of 15,832 severely damaged kutcha houses involving an amount of Rs 15.83 crore and 47,550 partially damaged houses involving an amount of Rs 23.77 crore will get benefited.

“State Governor N.N. Vohra has expressed gratitude to the union home minister and the prime minister for approving additional PMNRF relief of Rs 426.83 crore for assisting the flood affected families.

“The governor had met the union home minister and the prime minister last month and sought early sanction of additional relief.

“Pertinent to recall that Rs 115.81 crore PMNRF relief has already been disbursed to 16,748 beneficiaries in respect of fully damaged pucca and kutcha houses in pursuance of the announcement made by prime minister when he visited Srinagar on Diwali day.”