Following the outrage of people affected by recent floods and more so deprived of from cash relief being taken up off late, the government has decided today to continue relief distribution in order to provide succor to all those leftover affected families.
It is said that Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar on Sunday has reviewed the process of cash relief distribution among flood-affected people and hence decided to continue the process till the relief reached out to the last affected family.
During the meeting, that also saw the presence of Principal Secretary Municipal Administration and Urban Development Arvind Kumar and Commissioner GHMC Lokesh Kumar, it is informed that a total of Rs 387.90 crore so far has been distributed out of the sanctioned amount of Rs.550 crore from Chief Minister Relief Fund to take up rescue, relief and rehabilitation measures.
Though the decision was made during the day to extend the time of cash relief distribution time, the same was not communicated to the Deputy Commissioners till the time the report has filed. Officials were also seen clueless about the chief secretaries’ decision during the review meeting and is said to have been waiting for officials’ communication. As such the ambiguity remains continue as there is no clarity yet comes that predicts the time by when the distribution will be commenced.
It is pertinent to mention here that, following the announcement by the government last month that the financial cash relief of Rs.10,000 each would be given to around 3 to 4 lakh families affected by the recent flood, the process of distribution was set into motion accordingly from 20th October.
It is said that a total of Rs.40 crore has been distributed in Charminar Zone, which is primarily considered as an old city and consists of six GHMC circles such as Charminar, Malakpet, Santoshnagar, Chandrayangutta, Falaknuma, and Rajendranagar.
“Distribution of Rs.10,000 as an impromptu cash grant has begun from 20th October and lasted till the 29th of October and further extended by two days till 31st October. During this period – amid much chaos and tension, the GHMC has distributed Rs.40crore relief amount among 40 thousand beneficiaries being affected with the recent floods in the old city,” informed a senior GHMC official on the request of anonymity.
However, despite of government’s claim that the relief distribution process would be made completely transparent, the reports of discrepancies in the distribution of Rs.10,000 cash relief came to light from several areas as numerous affected families hit the roads after being deprived of the cash relief.
Even the complaints start pouring of irregularities allegedly being committed by the officials having hand in glove with the local leaders. Several demonstrations were held at local MRO and DRO offices wherein protesters claimed that they were deprived of the government dole while bogus people managed to get the relief.
However, there are some areas in the city where no such issues have cropped up and the distribution process has completed smoothly. Even the local people affirmed it, however, with some reservations.
“The relief distribution is completely fair and just. There is no iota of discrepancy in the distribution of amount. However, the quantum of relief is quite meager as it is not more than two percent of the damage the affected people have incurred,” said Dr.Syed Mujtaba Ahmed, Member CIB Quarters Welfare Association, Malakpet.
Explaining that the relief amount should be double for affected people residing off the FTLs of water bodies, he said, “These people were affected due to negligent attitude of concerned officials who failed to desilt the nalas regularly that block the stormwater from flowing freely through the drains resulting into inundation of several colonies.”
