Govt. move to put Gujarat back on rails

By Manas Dasgupta

AHMEDABAD, FEB. 3. With the rescue operations in the earthquake- hit areas, except the worst-affected Kutch district, being almost over and relief measures in place, the Gujarat Government is now concentrating on restoring normality in the State.

For the first time the Government made an appeal to the people to return to their homes if their building had not been declared unsafe. It summoned experts from other parts of the country to survey damaged building in Ahmedabad and other cities and sought certification of safety.

At all the taluk headquarters, it plans to start temporary markets to give a semblance of normality and reopen schools at least till February 16.

Following complaints of lapses in the rescue and relief operations in the initial stages, the Government has made administrative changes by setting up a five-tier system to streamline the measures.

The entire rescue and relief operations had been placed under the charge of the Principal Secretary, Mr. C.K. Koshy.

The Government revised the initial estimates of damage to public and private property and put it at over Rs. 20,875 crores. According to the Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Mr. P. K. Lehri, the estimates could further go up as more reports about destruction is being received from various parts.

Another tremor

The panic-stricken people in Kutch district felt yet another severe jolt today measuring 5 on the Richter scale. The Minister of State for Home, Mr. Haren Pandya, said there was no damage caused by the tremor which was the highest in the last three days. According to the Director of the Indian Meteorological Department, Ahmedabad, Mr. R.K. Kankane, the epicentre of the tremor was 20 km north of Bhuj and was one of the 10 aftershocks since Friday midnight. He said it was `normal' and there was no cause for alarm.

A special compensation of Rs. 50,000 had been granted to the family members of the school children in Anjar who were killed while participating in the Republic Day rally. The State Government employees killed in the quake would also be entitled for the additional compensation.

Mr. Lehri said that out of the estimated four lakh rendered homeless in Kutch district only about 2.8 lakh had been so far provided temporary shelter while the remaining spent the nights in the open.

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