Aid to rebuild squall-hit houses

GANDHINAGAR: The Gandhinagar collectorate has assessed that nearly 850 houses got fully or partially destroyed during the powerful squall that hit several villages in the Kalol taluka.
The owners of 150 collapsed houses would be given Rs 50,000 each, while those of the houses that suffered partial destruction, will be paid up to Rs 25,000 each. Soft loan option is being examined.The help from Radhaswami Satsang, a religious organisation, is being sought to rebuild houses.State revenue minister Kaushik Patel may have to issue a special government resolution for giving government help, as the existing GR for help against the damaged and collapsed houses is ‘applicable only for the days of the monsoon’, said collector SJ Haider, talking with newspersons here.
“We assess the total destruction to the tune of Rs 8 crore, out of which we believe the state would initally give help of up to Rs 2 crore�. Preliminary assessment has also suggested crop worth Rs 98.82 lakh has been destroyed. The main crops that suffered total destruction were jeeru, tobacco and potato, while other crops — including wheat and rapeseed — suffered to the tune of 40 to 50 per cent. “The damage may turn out to be much higher�, Haider said.