Wednesday, Jul 24, 2024 09:45 [IST]
Last Update: Wednesday, Jul 24, 2024 04:14 [IST]
GANGTOK: Union Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her budget speech on Tuesday announced providing financial assistance for Sikkim after flash floods and landslides wreaked havoc in the State.
While presenting her seventh straight budget in the Lok Sabha, Sitharaman said, “Recently, Sikkim witnessed devastating flash floods and landslides that wreaked havoc across the State. Our government will provide assistance to the State.”
On October 3, 2023, a massive flood that resulted from a glacier-lake outburst claimed over 60 lives and damaged hundreds of properties across the Teesta basin besides destroying Teesta 3 hydropower project at Chungthang and rendering several hydropower projects along the river dysfunctional.
Reacting to the Union budget, Chief Minister P.S. Golay said: “Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, during the budget speech today, mentioned about providing full support to Sikkim with regard to the reconstruction efforts post October 3, 2023 flash flood. On behalf of the State government, Sikkim and its people, I would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the Central government.”
Chief Minister Golay had called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on June 24 and presented the Post Disaster Need Assessment (PDNA) report, estimating at Rs. 3673.25 crore, for recovery and reconstruction, particularly targeting the post-GLOF reconstruction efforts.
Sikkim Lok Sabha MP Indra Hang Subba, who was in attendance in the Parliament for the Budget session, later stated, “In today’s Union Budget session, I am very thankful to Union Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman as well as to the Union government. The damages of flash flood that happened in Sikkim and the reconstruction efforts needed was specially mentioned in the Union Budget. For the decision taken to assist Sikkim, I thank the Union government".
He also thanked the Chief Minister for pursuing the concern and developing cordial relationship with the Central government. “The good relationship that Sikkim Krantikari Morcha government has with the Union government has resulted in Sikkim getting prioritized. Hence, on behalf of people of Sikkim, I would like to thank Union government and Finance minister Nirmala Sitharman.”
