So far, 2,400 houses across the state have been destroyed entirely and another 10,338 have been damaged partially.
Himachal revenue minister Jagat Singh Negi said there were two main issues – reconstruction of private property (houses, lands and orchards) and providing land to people whose land had been washed away in landslides and flash floods.
He said the reconstruction of private property was the biggest issue as there was no provision in the relief manual to provide money for this. There is a provision for paying only Rs 1.3 lakh as interim relief.
The minister said reconstruction of houses with this amount was impossible. “We are looking into legal and monetary aspects to provide maximum help to people who have lost their houses, lands and orchards,” he said.
He said providing land to people whose property had been entirely washed in the calamity was also tricky, as a majority of the state’s land was covered under Indian Forest Act and providing land under the law not easy. “We want affected people get the required land under Forest Conservation Act. All these issues are being considered seriously. In the entire country, there is no scheme under which houses are rebuilt for people affected by a natural calamity. We are trying to find a way out,” he said, acknowledging the limited resources with the government.