PM's intervention sought for Gujarat rehabilitation

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, APRIL 18. Congress MPs from Gujarat today sought the Prime Minister's intervention in the State so that the quake victims were provided succour.

They have appealed to him to release a Central assistance of Rs. 10,000 crores for rehabilitation of the quake- affected people.

In a memorandum to Mr. Vajpayee, the MPs - led by Mr. Ahmed Patel - criticised the State Government for its slow pace of rehabilitation.

``While people are waiting to get at least a shelter against scorching heat and the oncoming rains, the State Government is pondering the issue of declaring a relief package for rehabilitation,'' the memorandum says.

No efforts have been taken for providing employment for millions who have no means of livelihood, while youngsters faced a grave future as no education facility was available.

The handicraft household industry, a trademark of Kutch, was fast dying due to Government's apathy towards re-establishing the traditional activity.

The memorandum lists the activities that required Mr. Vajpayee's intervention. These include clearance of debris and retrieval of bodies, valuables and household articles with conscience knowledge of owners. Payment of cash compensation for death and injury in a time-bound manner.

Provision of water and shelter against heat and starting of cattle camps.

The memorandum seeks compensation for destroyed cattle sheds, work sheds of handicraft artisans and all those who have lost livelihoods. It calls for employment generation programmes for earthquake and drought hit areas.

It calls for remedial measures against complaints of ``political interference by local MLAs of the ruling party'' in the rehabilitation works undertaken by various NGOs and Government agencies.

People from the Bhuj, Anjar, Bhachau and Gandhidham did not know their fate as the State had still not decided about their rehabilitation.

The Kandla Port fell under the purview of the Kandla Port Trust under the Union Ministry of Surface Transport, but it had not come out with a policy regarding rehabilitation.

The MPs have asked the Centre to inject finance in the form of soft loan or interest-free loans to bring trade and commerce on firm footing in Kutch.

The RBI could be asked to float economically viable schemes for affected areas.

They have also sought tax holidays, duty exemptions and sales tax loans along with soft interest-free loans for existing and fresh industries against the Rs. 20,000 crores paid by Gujarat to the Central Government towards various taxes and duties in one year.

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