(a) the quantum of loss suffered by the State of Punjab due to damage to the irrigation infrastructure on account of the recent floods;
(b) whether the Government proposes to provide financial assistance to the State to rebuild the said infrastructure; and
(c) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI MULLAPPALLY RAMACHANDRAN)
(a) to (c): As per the information received from the Government of Punjab, 38 persons have lost their lives, 379 cattle heads have been lost and 2073 houses/ huts damaged and 1.89 lakh acre of cropped area have been reportedly affected in the State, due to heavy rain/ floods during south-west monsoon 2011. In addition, these calamities have damaged infrastructure in some parts of the States including flood protection embankments on various choes and have disrupted road communication system.
As per the existing scheme of State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), the repair / restoration of damaged infrastructure of immediate nature can be undertaken from SDRF, which is readily available with the State Government. However, rebuilding of the damaged infrastructure is required to be undertaken out of the overall development plan funds of the State & Centre