Prime Minister of India - Dr. Manmohan Singh

PM visits Sikkim, announces 1000 crore rupee relief

The Prime Minister visited Gangtok and made an aerial survey of the quake affected areas of the state of Sikkim. Dr. Manmohan Singh flew over the affected areas of Mangan, Chungthang, Lachen and Lachung and visited the injured at the Government Hosiptal in Gangtok. He was briefed of the damage and loss of lives and the relief and rehabilitation efforts at a review meeting attended by the Governor Mr. B.P Singh, Chief Minister Mr. Pawan Kumar Chamling and senior officials.

The Prime Minister after the visit said that he was deeply saddened at the tragic loss of lives, the injuries and the extensive damage caused by the earthquake.

The Prime Minister said that a central team of experts will arrive in Gangtok in the next week to identify appropriate design for damaged houses to be reconstructed. These constructions will be funded entirely by the Central government and from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund.

He said the main access roads to Sikkim have been restored, the road form Mangan to Chungthang will be restored by mid October, and work will continue to ensure that other roads are operational as early as possible. A special dispensation will be provided under the Centrally sponsored and central sector schemes for enabling the reconstruction of infrastructure like rural roads, school buildings, health centre buildings and anganwadi buildings.

The Prime Minister assured the state that work on restoration of drinking water supply sources, reconstruction of irrigation channels, and construction of flood protection works will also be taken up under central schemes. He said that damaged national monuments will be restored by the Ministry of Culture.

The Prime Minister said that keeping in view the extensive and unprecedented damage the Central Government is ready to provide assistance of 1,000 crore rupees for relief, restoration and reconstruction work.