Agartala, Sept 06: A special package of Rs. 564 crore has been announced by Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha in the Assembly on Friday, third and last day of the Monsoon Session, for flood relief and recovery works in the state.

The announcement came as a major relief as the state in grappling with the challenges created by the devastating flood. 

He also mentioned that after assessing the total damage, the state government would send a proposal to the central government requesting additional funds for the relief and rehabilitation. 

He said, the fund for the special package would be met by the state government.

As per the preliminary report, the flood claimed 32 lives and affected around 17 lakh people while the state government estimated total damages of Rs 14,247 crore.

The Chief Minister informed the House that the package includes Rs 70 crore for the Food and Civil Supplies Department for providing 10 kilograms of additional rice per ration card per month for the next two months benefiting 9.8 lakh ration card holders. 

For agriculture, Rs 15 crore has been sanctioned to provide financial assistance for seeds, fertilizers, and other agricultural support for Kharif and Rabi crop production. For horticulture, Rs 5 crore has been allocated for financial support for winter vegetable and flower cultivation, repair of paddy fields, fertilizers, and silt removal from damaged land. 

For fisheries, Rs 10 crore will provide financial assistance for the purchase of fishlings to boost fish production. In the Animal Resources Development Department (ARDD), Rs 5 crore will provide immediate assistance to protect the health of affected animals, including animal feed, water supply, medicine, rehabilitation, input subsidies, and other activities.

In the education sector, Rs 12 crore has been sanctioned to provide books to flood-affected students and for repairing and maintaining schools and colleges. 

Rs 50 crore has been allocated to the Public Works Department (Drinking Water and Sanitation) to ensure drinking water supply to flood-affected schools, Anganwadi centers, and households. For urban and rural development, Rs 52 crore will be used for the repair and maintenance of city and rural roads, drainage systems, and office buildings.

The Health Department will receive Rs 10 crore for the procurement of 2,000 bags of bleaching powder, 2 lakh ORS packets, 20 lakh halogen tablets, 10 lakh zinc tablets, fever medicine, and skin disease medicine to support disinfection and diarrhea prevention efforts.

In the Public Works Department (Water Resources), Rs 35 crore will be used for renovating, repairing, and maintaining dams, channels, and major projects in the state. 

The Power Department will receive Rs 100 crore for the rapid restoration, repair, and maintenance of power transmission lines, transformers, conductors, cables, and accessories. 

Lastly, Rs 200 crore has been allocated to the Public Works Department (Roads and Buildings) for the reconstruction, renovation, and maintenance of flood-damaged roads and drains.