(a)

SN	Date	Agenda for CRF Meetings
1	14/02/2001	Agenda Note for 27^th Meeting
2	17/04/2001	Agenda Note for 28^th Meeting
3	15/05/2001	Agenda Note for 29^th Meeting
4	28/06/2001	Agenda Note for 30^th Meeting

AGENDA NOTE FOR THE 27TH MEETING OF THE STATE LEVEL COMMITTEE TO ADMINISTER THE CALAMITY RELIEF FUND.

ITEM NO. 27.1 CONFIRMATION OF THE MINUTES OF THE 26TH MEETING OF THE STATE LEVEL COMMITTEE HELD ON 811212000.

The minutes of the 26th meeting of the State Level Committee held on 8/12/2000 as at Annexure-I were circulated vide ID No. 7/7195-ER-ll/12654, dated 15/12/2000

As there has been no objection, the committee may kindly approve/confirm the minutes.

ITEM NO. 27.2 ACTION TAKEN REPORT ON THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE 26TH MEETING OF STATE LEVEL COMMITTEE HELD ON 811212000.

26.1 CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING - No action is required.

26.2 APPROVAL FOR RELEASE OF FUNDS FORFLOOD CONTROL WORKS -

No action is required.

26.3 APPROVAL OF PURCHASE OF 3 COMPUTERS - No action is required.

26.4 RELIEF FOR COTTON CROP DAMAGED ON ACCOUNT OF PEST ATTACK - Instructions to all the Deputy Commissioners have been issued.

26.5 RELEASE OF FUNDS FOR COMPLETION OF MEHMOODPUR DRAIN IN TAHSIL BALACHAUR DISTRICT NAWANSHAHAR - The amount of Rs. 19.88 lacs has been released to the Deputy Commissioner Nawanshehar for the completion of Mehmoodpur Drain in Tehsil Balachaur, Distt. Nawanshehar.

26.6 INVESTMENT BY CALAMITY RELIEF FUND WITH THE SBI - (a) An application was to be moved in the Mumbai High Court for release of FDs worth Rs. 1.00 crore. The Director, Prosecution & Litigation has prepared a draft of the application and Deputy Secretary Revenue (A) has been authorized to sign and file it in the Mumbai High Court. As advised by Advocate General Punjab, Director Prosecution & Litigation, Punjab has requested LR and Secretary to Govt Maharashtra at Mumbai to direct the AG Maharashtra to file requisite application in the Mumbai High Court on behalf of Punjab State. The requisite fee etc. will be paid after it is duly certified by LR, Maharashtra as reasonable and as per schedule prescribed by his department from time to time. The matter is being pursued with LR Maharashtra.

(b) As regards interest from 28/3/91 to 14/7 /93 Director, Prosecution & Litigation, Punjab feels that we should send a legal notice to SBI only after awaiting outcome of our application in the Mumbai High Court. If we filed legal notice it would amount to bifurcation of our claim. As advised by Director, Prosecution and Litigation, Punjab we may not send the legal notice.

(c ) The details of the investments etc. have been sent to Director, Prosecution & Litigation. The Director, Prosecution & Litigation has also asked for a statement of CRF accounts for the year 1991-92. This is being obtained from SB I and will be supplied to him shortly. He is drafting the legal notice for recovery of sum of Rs. 75.43 lacs with interest @ 10.2 per annum compoundable every 6 months.

26.7 UT1LISATION CERTIFICATE FOR THE FUNDS RELEASED TO IRRIGATION DEPARTMENT DURING THE YEAR 1999-2000 - The Irrigation Deptt has been asked to send utilization certificate to the tune of Rs. 24.00 crores. They have also been asked to devise a uniform and standard proforma for furnishing utilization certificates indicating clearly tile source of funds. Reply is awaited.

26.8 FIXING OF NORMS FOR RELIEF FOR OTHER ITEMS - No demand has been received, as such no action is required at this stage.

26.9 TRANSFER OF UNSPENT BALANCE AS ON 31/3/2000 -FD has been requested to intimate the name of the authority in whose name bonds purchased from PSEB for Rs. 4.50 crore may be transferred. No reply has been received so far.

26.10 FUNDS FOR FLOOD PROTECTION WORKS - This item is included ill the agenda of this meeting.

ITEM NO. 27.3 CRF SCHEME 2000-2005

Ministry of Finance, Government of India has prepared a revised scheme (at Annexure-II) for constitution and administration of CRF and investment there from for the period 2000-05. It will be operative from 1/4/2000 to 31/3/2005. The salient points of this scheme which were not there in the previous scheme for the year 1995-2000 are as follows :

(i) The Central share of the CRF shall be released in 2 installments. The 2nd installment shall be released in November and will be released only after receiving annual report of natural calamities in the format prescribed by the Ministry of Agriculture. It is for the information of the committee that we have already furnished this report to the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India and Finance Department of Punjab14/12/2000.

(ii) The Central share and share of the State Government will be kept outside of the public accounts of the State and in the manner prescribed in the scheme i.e. Government securities, interest earning deposits in commercial and co-operative banks. However, if for some reason it is not possible to invest in the manner prescribed in the scheme, it should be kept ill tile public account on which the State Government should pay interest to the Fund at 1.5 times the rate applicable to over draft under Over Draft Regulation Scheme of the I~BI. Interest will be credited on a half yearly basis. (Para 7 of the scheme )

It is submitted for the information of the committee that for the current year the Central share is Rs. 92.04 crores and the State share is Rs. 30.68 crores. The total amount for the Calamity Relief Fund for the current year will be Rs. 122.72 crores. The Central Government has so far released Rs. 16.95 crore. The Finance Department has released only a sum of Rs. 3.00 crores and the balance amount is with the Finance Department. As per the new scheme the FD will be required to pay interest to the CRF for keeping this amount in the public accounts of the State.

ITEM NO.27 .4 RELEASE OF FUNDS FOR FLOOD PROTECTION WORKS

1. The Irrigation Department vide us letter dated 30/11/2000 requested for release of Rs. 15 crore fur flood protection works and resectioning or drains. The Revenue Department vide its letter dated 18/12/2000 requested the Irrigation Department for getting the flood protection works prioritized by the District Level Flood Committees headed by the Deputy Commissioners. The department vide its letter dated 911/2001 submitted a list of work amounting to Rs. 11.06 crore. This list pertained to 13 districts. In regard to 4 districts it was stated that the works had not been finalised. The department subsequently vides its letter dated 22/1/2001 sent a consolidated list of all the 17 districts amounting to Rs. 14.93 crores. The Chief Engineer, Irrigation vide his letter dated 8/2/2001 has sent a photo copy of the works approved and counter signed by the Deputy Commissioners 4 Deputy Commissioners Kapurthala, Nawanshehar, Bathinda and Faridkot are yet to approve and counter sign the list.

2. The district-wise demand for funds is given below. The Deputy Commissioners have approved large number of works and the Department of Irrigation has picked up some selected works, which are more or less in accordance with the priority fixed by the Deputy Commissioners. It is submitted that the DCs have not convened the meeting of District Level Flood Protection Committees in which MLJ\s etc are also members The list of works were approved in meetings chaired by DC/ his representative and attended by SDMs and Irrigation Department officers.

3. The details of the requirement of the funds are as follows:

(Figures Rs lacs)

SN	District	Flood Protection works	Resectioning of Drainage	Total requirement	Works approved/ counter signed by the Deputy Commissioner
1	Amritsar	131.50	48.50	180	261
2	Gurdaspur	99	21.50	120.50	253
3	Kapurthala	60		60	Yet to be approved
4	Jalandhar	100		100	121
5	Hoshiarpur		30	30	110
6	Nawanshahar	51	39	90	Yet to be approved
7	Ludhiana	175	45	220	220
8	Ropar	80		80	1673
9	F.G. Sahib	10	10	20	105
10	Patiala	61.50	24	85.50	85.50
11	Sangrur	11	49	60	220
12	Mansa	45.50	69.50	115	250
13	Bhatinda	20		20	Yet to be approved
14	Faridkot	30		30	Yet to be approved
15	Mukatsar		45	45	95
16	Moga	25	15	40	75
17	Ferozepur	87	110.50	197.50	207
	Total	986.50	507	1493.50	3675.50

4. The Government of India had prepared a list of items and norms of assistance for the CRF Scheme 1995-2000 and item No.18 read as follows :

" Restoration to pre-calamity level of damage -"public works viz. namely roads, buildings, irrigation and flood control works, drinking water supply works, drainage works, school buildings, public health centers, hospital buildings, electricity installation etc. "

The funds from CRF are sanctioned every year under item No.18.

5. Item No.10.1 of CRF scheme 2000-05 which has become operative w.e.f. 1/4/2000 read as follows :

"The expenditure on restoration of damaged capital works should ordinarily be met from the normal budgetary heads, except when it is to be incurred as pm1 of providing immediate relief such as restoration of drinking water sources or provision of shelters etc. or restoration of communication links for facilitating relief operation. A Committee of Experts and representatives of States set up by the Ministry of Agriculture shall review the list of items of expenditure which alone will be chargeable to the Fund. A State-specific list shall also be finalized in consultation with the representatives of the concerned State Government after taking into consideration the State specific needs and practices."

6. Committee of Experts as suggested is to be set up. However, a Committee of Experts was set up in 1997 in pursuance of 10th Finance Commission recommendations. That Committee of Experts submitted a report in September 2000 and the report has been circulated to the State Government for comments. Item No.16 of the list of items reads as follows :

"Restoration to pre calamity level of damaged, drinking water supply works in rural areas, community owned social structure, village schools ,etc. "

7. The Ministry of Agriculture of Government of India has however not accepted and implemented the report of Expert Committee. The para 10.1 of the CRF Scheme 2000-2005 is, however, as per the recommendations of the Committee of Experts. As per new scheme we cannot utilised CRF for flood protection works. However, it is felt that till the Ministry of Agriculture accepts recommendations by the Expert Committee. We could utilize CRF funds for restoration of Flood Control/Drainage Works. It is accordingly requested that the committee for CRF may kindly grant approval for sanction of sum of Rs. 14.93 crores to the Department of Irrigation.

ITEM NO. 27.5 RELEASE OF FUNDS FOR DAMAGE TO CROPS/HOUSES, LOSS OF LIFE ETC.

There are a number of cases pending for sanction of relief on account of damage to crops/houses, loss of life, loss of animals etc. The Financial Commissioner, Revenue has been authorized to sanction relief in case where tile relief amount is less than Rs. 50 lacs and all the cases of Rs. 50 lacs and above are approved by the committee for CRF.

2. The cases were not being sanction for want of completion of requisite the formalities. The Special Secretary, Revenue discussed each and every case with the District Revenue Officers in the 2nd week of January and in most of the cases the formalities have been completed. The latest position of the pending cases is placed at Annexure-III.

3. Most of these cases pertain to the period before March 2000 when the CRF Scheme for the period 1995-2000 came to an end. The amount lying unspent as on 31/3/2000 was returned to FD of the Punjab Government. W.e.f. 1/4/2000 CRF Scheme for the period 2000-05 has become operative. There is no bar for release of funds from the current scheme for these old cases of the period 1995-2000.

4. In the following cases all the formalities have been completed and the relief amount needs to be sanctioned. These cases were presented to the FCR who was of the view that all cases including cases for which the FCR was competent to sanction the relief be placed before the committee for CRF for final decision. The committee is accordingly requested to consider and approve the relief amount in the following cases wherein all the formalities have been completed :

SN	District	Year	Amount (Rs. lacs)	Details	Area affected (In acres)	Date of occurrence	No. of houses/ animals/ human lives
1	Sangrur	2000-01	144.10	Damage to crops due to heavy rains	12181	July/Aug 2000
1	Sangrur	1998-99	128.04	Crop loss due to floods	10918	July 1998
2	Hoshiarpur	1998-99	29.14	Crop loss due to heavy rains	2507	16 Oct 1998
3	Nawan- shahar	1999-00	0.05	House damage		July 1999	1
4	Ropar	1998-99	3.35	Crop loss due to heavy rains	138	Oct 1998
5	Bathinda	1997-98	0.032	Loss of goats due to heavy rains		27/8/97	4
6	Mansa	1998-99	0.73	House damage due to rains		July 1998	14
6	Mansa		0.12	Cattle loss due to heavy rains		July 1998	3
7	Ferozepur	2000-01	106.88	Crop damage due to heavy rains	6578	July 2000
		2000-01	72.34	House damage due to rains		July 2000	1726
		2000-01	26.12	Crop damage due to hailstorms	1930	8/9/2000
		1998-99	34.03	Crop damage due to heavy rains	4182	10/9/98
		1997-98	50.08	Crop damage due to water logging	2736	Rabi 97 to Kharif 99
8	Patiala	1998-99	0.50	Loss of Human life due to heavy rains		12/8/98	1
	Total		595.51		41170

(a) The total amount involved in all the relief cases pending as on 5/2/2001 is Rs. 963.26 lacs.

(b) Out of above, following cases stand sanctioned :

(Rs. in lacs)

(i) Sangrur 35.00

(ii) Fatehgarh Sahib 0.55

(iii) Ropar 4.17

0.50

(iv) Bathinda 0.50

0.50

Total: 41.72

(d) Cases in which formalities are yet to be completed (Annexure-IV) and which will be left pending - Rs. 326.03 lacs.

AGENDA NOTE FOR THE 28TH MEETING OF THE STA TE LEVEL COMMITTEE TO ADMINISTER THE CALAMITY RELIEF FUND.

ITEM NO. 28.1 CONFIRMATION OF THE MINUTES OF THE 27TH MEETING OF THE STATE LEVEL COMMIT1'EE IIELU ON 14/2/2001

The minutes of the 27th meeting of the State Level Committee held on 14/2/2001 as at Annexure-I were circulated vide ID No. 7/4/2001-ER-II/1147, dated 16/2/2001.

As there has been no objection, the committee may kindly approve / confirms the minutes.

ITEM NO. 28.2 ACTION TAKEN REPORT ON THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE 27TH MEETING OF THE STATE LEVEL COMMITTEE HELD ON 14/2/2001

27.1 CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING: No action is required.

26.5 COMPLETION OF MEHMOODPUR DRAIN IN TEHSIL BALACHAUR DISTRICT NAWANSHAHAR : No report has been received from Irrigation Department regarding status of the work.

26.6 INVESTMENT BY CALAMITY RELIEF FUND WITH THE SBI :

(a) The application which is to be filed in the Mumbai High Court has been got vetted from the Assistant Government Pleader Government of Maharashtra. The Deputy Secretary, Administration who has been

authorized to sign it is being sent to Mumbai for signing the application

and filing it before the competent authority.

(b) No action is required.

(c) The draft has been prepared by the District Attorney and after approval from the Financial Commissioner, Revenue it will be sent to the State Bank of India.

26.7 UTILIZATION CERTIFICATE FOR THE FUND RELEASED TO IRRIGATION DEPARTMENT DURING THE YEAR 1999-2000 :

Utilization certificate in respect of Rs. 14.00 crore in the revised proforma have not been received from the Irrigation Department so far .

26.8 FIXING OF NORMS FOR RELIEF FOR OTHER ITEMS : No action is required.

26.9 TRANSFER OF UNSPENT BALANCE AS ON 31/3/2000 : No action is required at this stage.

27.3 CRF SCHEME 2000-05 : Necessary credit of Rs. 64 crore has been given by Accountant General, Punjab and the requisite certificate has also been furnished by the Accountant General, Punjab which has since been sent to Government of India.

The State Level Committee has since been reconstituted.

27.4 RELEASE OF FUNDS FOR FLOOD PROTECTION WORKS :

(a) An amount of Rs. 7.46 crore has since been released to the Irrigation Department.

(b) Deputy Commissioners have already been requested demi-officially to convene the meeting of the District Flood Protection Committee.

27.5 RELEASE OF FUNDS FOR DAMAGE TO CROPS I HOUSES, LOSS OF LIFE ETC : This item has been included in the agenda of this meeting.

ITEM NO. 28.3 NATIONAL CALAMITY CONTINGENCY FUND SCHEME 2000-05

Ministry of Finance, Government of India has prepared a scheme (At Annexure-II) for constitution administration of National Calamity and Contingency Fund (NCCF) to deal with the calamities of rare severity for the period 2000-05. This scheme will be operated by the Govt. of India and will be operative from 1/4/2000 to 31/3/2005.

2. Salient features of the scheme are as follows .

(i) Under this scheme natural calamities of cyclone, drought, earthquake, fire, flood and hailstorms, considered to be of severe nature requiring expenditure by the State Government in excess of the balances available in its own Calamity Relief Fund by the National Centre for Calamity Management will qualify for relief assistance. (Para 3)

(ii) The scheme will be funded by the Government of India. (Para 5.1)

(iii) The assistance under the scheme shall be released by the Govt. of India on the recommendations of a High Level Committee on Calamity Relief to be constituted by the Ministry of Agriculture.(Para 7.1)

(iv) The assistance received under the scheme shall be treated as receipts alongwith the receipts of Central/State shares of Calamity Relief Fund. (Para 7.1)

(v) The State Level Committee shall be responsible to ensure that expenditure incurred out of the funds received under this scheme is as per the items and norms of expenditure as decided for in respect of the Calamity Relief Fund. (Para 8)

(vi) Any assistance provided by the center to the State under this scheme shall be financed by levy of special surcharge on the Central taxes for a limited period. (Para 9)

Submitted for the information of the Committee.

ITEM NO. 28.4 QUORUM OF THE COMMITTEE

In the year 1991 in pursuance of the scheme for constitution and administration of the Calamity Relief Fund and investments therefrom issued by the Government of India" a State Level Committee to administer the Calamity Relief Fund in the State of Punjab comprising the following members was constituted :

(i) Chief Secretary to Govt. Punjab Chairman

(ii) Financial Commissioner Development Member

(iii) Financial Commissioner Revenue Member

(iv) Secretary to Govt. Punjab Irrigation & Member

Power Deptt.

(v) Secretary to Govt. Punjab Department of Member

Finance

(vi) Secretary to Govt. Punjab Public Works Member

Deptt (B&R) and Public Health.

(vii) Secretary to Govt. Punjab Health & Family Member

Welfare Deptt.

(viii) Secretary to Govt. Punjab Animal Member

Husbandry Deptt.

(ix) Addl. Secretary / Joint Secretary to Govt. Member Secretary

Punjab Revenue Deptt.

In the Ist meeting of the above constituted Committee a quorum of the Committee was fixed as 4 members.

Now in the pursuance of the new scheme for 2000-05 for constitution and administration of the Calamity Relief Fund and investments therefrom issued by the Government of India, State Level Committee has been reconstituted comprising with the following member:

(i) Chief Secretary to Govt. Punjab; Chairman

(ii) Financial Commissioner, Revenue, Punjab Member

(iii) Financial Commissioner, Development, Punjab; Member

(iv) Principal Secretary to Gov1. Punjab, Irrigation & Member

Power Department.

(v) Principal Secretary to Govt. Punjab, Member

Health & Family Welfare Department.

(vi) Principal Secretary to Govt. Punjab Member

Finance Department.

(vii) Secretary to Govt. Punjab, Public Works Member

Department (B&R).

(viii) Secretary to Govt. Punjab; Member

Animal Husbandry Department.

(ix) Secretary to Govt. Punjab, Member

Public Health Department.

(x) Special Secretary/ Addl. Secretary/ Member Secy.

Joint Secretary to Govt. Punjab, Revenue Department.

The Committee is requested to consider and decide the quorum to be fixed for its meetings.

ITEM 28.5 GRANT OF RELIEF DUE TO DAMAGE TO CROPS, HOUSES AND LOSS OF LIFE ETC.

(1) Last meeting: There are a number of cases for the period from 1995-2001 for the grant of relief, pending with the Revenue Department. The amount could not to sanctioned in time for non-completion of formalities time. The list of the these cases were submitted before the State Level Committee of CRF in the meeting held on 14/2/200 1 wherein the following decisions were taken :

(i) That for the period 1995-2001 only the cases relating to loss of life are to be considered for grant of relief The amount for this purpose is received from the Prime Minister Relief Fund.

(ii) All other cases of the period 1995-2000 i.e. cases relating to damage to crops, damage to houses, loss of animals etc. should be considered as closed.

(iii) Decision regarding all types of cases for grant of relief for the period from 1/4/2000 was deferred. The department could consider and process these cases and bring them up before the committee separately.

(2) CM's meeting: In the meantime a meeting was held under the chairmanship of Hon'ble Chief Minister on 8/3/2001. The meeting was attended by Finance Minister, Chief Secretary, Financial Commissioner, Revenue and Principal Secretary, Finance. All the pending flood relief cases were reviewed and it was decided :

(a) All cases of loss of lives be finalized and sanctioned.

(b) Cases of crop loss for the 2 years 1999-2000 and 2000-01 be finalized and sanctioned.

(3) The cases above Rs. 50 lac are to be sanctioned by the committee for Calamity Relief Fund. The Financial Commissioner, Revenue desired that all cases requiring sanction including cases for less than Rs. 50 lac be submitted to the committee.

(4) The case of crop loss for the 2 years 1999-2000 and 2000-01 are placed at Annexure-III. All the formalities are complete. There are in all 8 cases amount in Rs. 429.66 lac. The committee is requested to give approval to these cases.

The details of other cases for the period 1995-96 to 1998-99 are placed at Annexure-IV for the information of the committee These cases are also mature but relief is not to be provided in these old cases in view of the decision already taken in the last meeting of Calamity Relief Fund and in the CM's meeting.

ITEM NO. 28.6 RELEASE OF FUNDS FOR FLOOD PROTECTION

(1) This item was discussed at item No. 27.4 in the previous meeting of the Calamity Relief Fund held on 14/2/2001. The Irrigation Department is required to submit every year the list of flood protection works duly recommended by the District Level Flood Protection Committees to the Revenue Department for release of funds from the Calamity Relief Fund. The Irrigation Department this year had not submitted the list of works duly recommended by the District Level Committees. In the last meeting on 14/2/200 I it was decided that 50% of the amount demanded be released as an interim measure and the Irrigation Department be requested to submit the requisite list in the next meeting. A sum of Rs. 7.46 crore out of the total amount of Rs. 14.93 crore was released on 5/3/2001 as per the decision of the Calamity Relief Fund Committee on] 4/2/2001.

(2) The Irrigation Department has now submitted the list of works amounting to Rs. 15 crore. The meetings of District Level Flood Protection Committees have been held in 12 districts i.e. districts of Nawanshahar, Amritsar, Ropar, Bathinda, Fatehgarh Sahib, Faridkot, Ferozepur, Sangrur, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Kapurthala , Moga and Mansa. The meetings in the remaining 5 districts (Gurdaspur, Ludhiana, Mukatsar , Patiala and Sangrur) have not been held and the department has forwarded the list of works which are countersigned by the respective Deputy Commissioners. It is for the committee to decide whether to approve such list. There is hardly any time left for the execution of works now. All the flood protection works have to be completed before 30/6/2001 and any delay in the release of funds would prove to be counter productive At best we may impose the condition for the remaining districts that list of works would be ratified by the District Level Flood Protection Committees.

(3) The list of work for Rs. 7.46 crore which was released in the last meeting can be seen at Annexure- V. The list of works of the remaining amount of Rs. 7 53 crore can be seen at Annexure- VI. The proceedings of District Level Flood Protection Committee meetings can be seen at Annexure- VII. The total district-wise allocation is as follows .

(Rs. in lacs)

SN	Name of District	Allocation made out of Rs. 746 lacs already released	Proposed allocation from the funds to be released	Total allocation
1	Amritsar	90.00	90.00	180.00
2	Bathinda	20.00	-	20.00
3	Fatehgarh Sahib	10.00	10.00	20.00
4	Faridkot	16.00	14.00	30.00
5	Ferozepur	101.50	96.00	197.50
6	Gurdaspur	61.50	59.00	120.50
7	Hoshiarpur	11.90	18.00	29.90
8	Jalandhar	50.00	50.00	100.00
9	Kapurthala	37.00	23.00	60.00
10	Ludhiana	115.00	105.00	220.00
11	Mansa	54.50	60.50	115.00
12	Moga	20.00	20.00	40.00
13	Muktsar	-	45.00	45.00
14	Nawanshehar	46.00	44.00	90.00
15	Patiala	42.75	49.00	91.75
16	Ropar	40.00	40.00	80.00
17	Sangrur	29.85	30.15	60.00
	Total	746.00	753.65	1499.56 (Say 1500.00)

The committee is requested to grant sanction to release of Rs. 7.53 crore and the list of works for Rs. 14.99 crore. We may impose the condition that in the districts of Gurdaspur, Ludhiana, Mukatsar , Patiala, and Sangrur, the list of works will be got ratified by the District Level Flood Protection Committees.

AGENDA NOTE FOR THE 29TH MEETING THE STATE LEVEL COMMITTEE TO ADMINISTER THE CALAMITY RELIEF FUND

ITEM NO. 29.1 CONFIRMATION OF THE MINUTES OF THE 28TH MEETING OF THE STATE LEVEL COMMITTEE HELD ON 17.4.2001.

The minutes of the 28th meeting of the State Level Committee held on 17.4.2001 as at Annexure-I were circulated vide I.D.No.7/4/20O1-ER-II/2551, dated 20.4.2001.

As there has been no objection, the committee may kindly approve/confirm the minutes.

ITEM NO. 29.2 RELEASE OF Rs 571.75 LACS FOR FLOOD PROTECTION WORKS

The need for sending timely list for emergent flood protection works has been emphasized to both the Deputy Commissioners and the Irrigation Department time and again. As early as 13.12.2000 the Irrigation Department had promised to submit a list of such works in a week's time However, a complete list of' these works was sent by them in the 4th week of January without keeping the Deputy Commissioners informed. 50% of the tentative demand of' the department was released on 5.3.2001 as per the decision of the State Level Committee to administer the Calamity Relief Fund in its 27^th meeting held on held on 14.2.2001. Even this amount was drawn by the department as late as 30.3.2001. Thereafter the final lists were submitted by the department in the second week of April and after the 28th meeting of the State Level Committee to administer Calamity Relief Fund held on 17.4.2001, further amount was allowed to be released.

2. The Irrigation Department vide their notes at Annexure II & III has now submitted another list of works (copy at Annexure IV) to be executed at a cost of Rs. 571.75 lacs, district wise details of which are given below:-

Sr.No. Name of District Amount

1. Gurdaspur 235.00 lacs

2. Mukatsar 71.00 lacs

3. Faridkot 38.50 lacs

4. Hoshiarpur 44.75 lacs

5. Ludhiana 14.00 lacs

6. Kapurthala 30.00 lacs

7. Ferozepur 88.50 lacs

8. Amritsar 50.00 lacs

Total: Rs. 571.75 lacs

3. While sending the demand for 571.75 lacs, it has not clarified by the department whether the District Level Committees been consulted or not. It has, therefore, been considered fact that the lists of emergent flood protection works are finalized near the rainy season. Therefore, it has already been decided by the Committee that before the amount is released to the districts, the Department shall send a list of such prioritized sites restricting the expenditure to the projected demand subject to certifying that:-

(i) The sites identified are the most emergent and critical and with the execution of proposed quantum of work, there is a reasonable assurance of meeting any emergency arising during the rainy 'season; and

(ii) The work on these sites shall be completed by 30.6.2001 and no financial liability shall be created beyond Rs.571.75 lacs.

The Committee may take a decision on the list of works submitted by the department subject to the conditions listed above.

ITEM NO. 29.3 GRANT OF RELIEF IN CASE OF LOSS OF LIFE/ PROPERTY/CROPS DUE TO FIRE.

Prior to 1.4.1997, vide the Revenue Department Memo. No.7/7/95-ER-II/5192, dated 14.9. 1995(Para 5 of Annexure-V) relief on account of loss due to fire 20% of the total loss subject to a maximum of Rs.50, 000/- in any individual Case in respect of properties/crops which were not ensured without any condition relating to income of the affected person was granted.

2. This relief was stopped w.e.f. 1.4.1997 vide this Department's instructions issued vide Memo No.5/70/97-ER-IV/4815, dated 14.7.1997(Annexure-VI) keeping in view the guidelines issued by the Government of India vide letter No.1-21/95-NDM dated 21.3.1997(Annexure-VII).

3. As per the new Calamity Relief Fund scheme for the year 2000-2005, the Calamity Relief Fund should be used for meeting the expenditure for providing immediate relief to the victims of Cyclone, drought, earthquake, fire, flood and hailstorm. But in the said scheme the types of fire have not been defined. Though the Expert Committee set up by the Government of India has recommended in its report (Annexure-VIII) that wild £ire/forest fire should be - included as natural calamity. The recommendations have not been accepted by the Government of India so far as the new Expert Committee has been reconstituted by the Government of India to identify the items/norms.

4. At present relief is admissible on account of loss due to lightening on the same pattern as is being given in case of losses due to floods.

5. In view of the position explained above, no general instructions are required making all types 0£ £ire eligible for gratuitous relief as the same will have wide scope for misuse. Exceptional happenings warrant exceptional decisions and the Calamity Relief Fund Committee can take stock 0£ fires which broke out on 7th/8th May, 2001 on account of stubble burning compounded by strong dusty winds.

6. Deputy Commissioner, Ferozepur vide his D.O. Letter dated 9.5.2001 copy at {Annexure-IX) has reported that damage to crops and property has occurred in about 24 Villages due to fire and one person has lost his life. Rs.2.00 lakhs have been demanded by him for relief purposes. Similarly, D.C.Kapurthala vide his letter dated 9.5.01 copy at Annexure-X has reported that large number of poor and destitute families have lost their entire belongings including their means of livelihood such as Rehras and Gaddas etc. They will have to start their life once again as they have only clothes on their bodies, everything else has been gutted. Around 45 families have been affected by the fire in Kapurthala District and 25 families have lost their dwelling units. He has proposed that each affected family may be granted relief upto Rs.5000/- He has demanded Rs. 1.5 lakhs for providing relief to the victims. In both these cases the loss was reported within 24 hours and the Deputy Commissioners have visited the affected areas and are personally aware of the extent of damage.

7. The matter is placed before the Committee for laying down the upper limit of relief in respect of damage to property including crops and loss of life due to fire involved in the present proposal and the amount to be placed at the disposal of Deputy Commissioners, Ferozepur and Kapurthala.

AGENDA NOTE FOR THE 30^TH MEETING OF THE STATE LEVEL COMMITTEE TO ADMINISTER THE CALAMITY RELIEF FUND.

Agenda Item No. 30.1: Confirmation of the minutes of the 29^th meeting of the State Level Committee held on 15/5/2001

The minutes of the 29^th meeting of the State Level Committee held on 15/5/2001 as at Annexure-I were circulated vide ID No. 7/4/2001-ER-II/3163 dated 18/5/2001.

As there has been no objection, the committee may kindly approve / confirm the minutes.

Agenda Item No. 30.2 - Providing relief for crop loss due to fire

In the meeting of Deputy Commissioners held on 11.6.2001, C.M. had desired that Revenue Department may restore provision for relief to farmers whose crops are damaged due to fire and further that the relief may be allowed @ Rs.3000/- per acre. As regards the crops which are destroyed due to faults in electricity lines/L.D. System or reasons connected with the Board, PSEB vide its letter dated 5.5.2001 had earlier issued instructions for compensation @ Rs.2000/- per acre for crop loss exceeding 75%, Rs.1000/- per acre for loss between 50% to 75% and Rs.700/- per acre for loss between 25% to 50%, this scale of compensation being the same as applicable in case of damage to crops on account of natural calamities. However, in pursuance of a decision taken in the meeting of DCs, relief for crop loss due to electric faults has been raised from Rs.2000/- to 3000/- per acre and communicated through a D.O. letter dated 15.6.2001 of the Chief Secretary addressed to the Deputy Commissioners.

2. Fire is included in the definition of natural calamities in the scheme of Calamity Relief Fund and prior to 1.4.1997, gratuitous relief on account of loss due to fire was being allowed by the State Government @ 20% of the total loss subject to a maximum of Rs.50, 000/- in any individual case in respect of properties/crops which were not insured irrespective of the income of the persons affected. However, since norms for relief in case of loss due to fire did not figure in the guidelines issued by the Govt. of India vide letter No.1-21/95-NDM, dated 21.3.1997(Annexure-II), relief on this account was stopped with effect from 1.4.1997 vide Revenue Department instructions issued through Memo. No.5/70/97-ER-IV/4815, dated 14.7.1997 (Annexure-III). But it has been allowed in cases of exceptional happenings. Recently too in case of loss to crops due to stubble burning compounded by strong winds in district Kapurthala affecting 45 families, relief @ Rs.5000/- per family was approved by the State Level Committee to those who lost their dwelling units and household items. Earlier to that relief was sanctioned out of Calamity Relief Fund for crop loss caused due to derailment of bogies treating the occurrence at par with Natural Calamity that befell the farmers concerned. Thus there has never been any hesitation on the part of the Committee to provide relief in genuine deserving cases.

3. The new Calamity Relief Fund scheme for the period 2000-2005 provides for immediate relief to the victims of cyclone, drought, earthquake, fire, floods and hailstorms, but the types of fire justifying relief have not been defined in the scheme. The Expert Committee set up by the Govt. of India for fixing the norms of relief had recommended in its report (Annexure- IV) that only wild fire/forest fire should be treated as natural calamity. The recommendations have yet to be accepted by the Govt. of India and a new Expert Committee has been reconstituted to identify the items/norms to be covered for relief.

It has been observed that losses on account of fire are reported belatedly and are generally not supported by site inspection reports of the Revenue Authorities soon after the incident. Quite often, no reports regarding loss to life or property are lodged with the Police. Generally the cases are isolated and not verifiable when submitted even to the field authorities promptly. In the past a number of cases have been found to be bogus and concocted. In order to prevent misuse of the relief, if restored, strict instructions will have to be issued about prompt reporting of the loss after spot inspection by the Revenue Officials of rank of Naib Tehsildar or above in the presence of respectable of locality within 48 hours of the incident.

4. Norms of gratuitous relief sanctioned by the State Govt. are much higher than those sanctioned by the Govt. of India e.g. in case of crop loss exceeding 75%, State Government provides @ Rs.2000/- per acre as against the rate of Rs.200/- per acre allowed by Govt. of India. Higher norms of Rs.3000/- per acre for compensation by the PSEB are justifiable on the ground that the Board grants the amount by way of compensation whereas the Revenue Department gives it as a gratuitous relief out of Calamity Relief Fund. However, if the scale of relief in case of total crop loss in case of natural calamities is also to be enhanced upto Rs.3000/- per acre, as desired by the Hon'ble C.M., rates for lesser losses i.e. between 25% to 50% and 50% to 75% may also have to be revised from the present rates of Rs.700/- & Rs.1000/- per acre respectively.

Matter is placed before the Committee for consideration and decision.

Agenda Item No. 30.3 - Crop loss due to drought for the year 2000-01 (Rabi 2001)

We have received report of crop damage due to drought from the district of Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Nawanshahar and Ropar. The guidelines for disbursement of relief for crop loss due to drought were last issued on 6/11/87. Thereafter there was no drought and therefore the need for issuing fresh instructions and revising the norms did not arise. As per guidelines of 1987 the following norms were fixed:

(a) Bonus- Bonus @ Rs. 17 per quintal was given for sale of paddy in the notified mandis.

(b) Area not sown due to drought – Rs. 350 per acre per khatauni not exceeding 5 acres.

(i) Where the loss to crops exceeds 75% Rs. 700 per acre

(ii) Where the loss to crops exceeds Rs.400 per acre

50% but does not exceed 75%

(iii) Where the loss to standing crops Rs. 200 per acre

exceeds 25% but does not exceed 50%

(iv) Where the loss does not exceed 25% Rs. Nil

The norms for crop loss due to drought were identical to the norms fixed for crop loss due to heavy rains / hailstorms in 1987.

2. The State government revised norms for crop loss due to floods in 1995. The norms for no crop sown due to water logging was fixed in 1997. The existing norms are as follows:

(a) No crop sown due to water logging Rs. 700 per acre (Upto 10 acres per khatauni)

(b) Crop loss due to heavy rains / floods :

(i) Where crop is totally damaged in early stage but area can be resown in the same season, farmers may be allowed relief for seeds, fertilizers etc. @ Rs. 700 per acre.

(ii) Where crop is totally damaged in early stage but area can not be resown, relief may be allowed @ Rs. 1000 per acre.

(iii) Relief on account of damage of mature standing / harvested crops at the following rates may be allowed:

(a)	Where the loss to standing / harvested Rs.2000 per acre.	Crops exceeds 75%
(b)	Where the loss to standing / harvested Rs.1000 per acre	crops exceeds 50% but does not exceed 75%
(c)	Where the loss to standing / harvested Rs. 700 per acre	crops exceeds 25% but does not exceed 50%

(Upto 10 acres per khatauni)

3. We have received reports of loss of crops due to draught from the following districts:

SN	District	Area affected	Amount demanded
1	Nawanshahar	2743 Acre	5438900/-
2	Ropar	5396.6 Acre	10793464/-
3	Hoshiarpur	972.1 Acre	972181/-
4	Gurdaspur	17515 Acre	35030000/-

The status report has been sought from the Agriculture Department.

4. It is, therefore, proposed that relief at the following rates may kindly be approved for crop loss due to droughts:

(a) No crop sown Rs. 700 per acre

(b) Crop fully damaged in early stage Rs. 1000 per acre

(c ) Relief on account of damage of mature crops:

(i) Where the loss to mature crops Rs. 2000 per acre

exceeding 75%

(ii) Where loss to mature crops Rs. 1000 per acre

exceeds 50% but is less than 75%

(iii) Where the loss to standing crops Rs. 700 per acre

exceeds 25% but is less than 50%

(iv) Where the loss to mature crops is No relief

less than 25%

(Relief will be admissible upto maximum of 10 acres per khatauni)

Agenda Item No. 30.4 - Use of Remote Sensing Information for assessment of damage in the wake of natural calamities.

This item was discussed in the meeting of CRF held on 17/4/2001 when relief cases from the districts were finalized. It was decided that the Revenue Department would study the whole scheme and work out the details after associating some of the DCs.

2. The Secretary Revenue accordingly held a meeting in the office of Punjab Remote Sensing Centre, PAU Campus, Ludhiana where the following officers were present:

Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana

Deputy Commissioner, Patiala

ADC Sangrur

ADC Ludhiana

ADC Ferozepur

GA Kapurthala

Director, Punjab Remote Sensing Centre, Ludhiana

3. The Punjab Remote Sensing Authority explained salient features of the scheme and give practical demonstration. The proceedings of the meeting are annexed herewith at Annexure-V. This scheme will be useful as explained in the proceedings of the meeting. The cost estimates are as follows :

Cost of Satellite Image:

(a)	Cost of IRS LISS III data (104 Scenes)	Rs. 11.44 lacs (To be incurred only if floods are there)
(b)	Cost of RADARSAR data (104 Scenes)	Rs. 4.00 lacs (To be incurred every year)
(c)	Cost of generation of maps and reports	Rs. 1.50 lacs (To be incurred only if floods are there)
(d)	Digitalisation of maps	Rs. 3.58 lacs (One time cost)
(e)	Cost of plotting of maps	Rs. 3.05 lacs (One time cost)

4. It may, therefore, be seem that to make this scheme functional we have to incur:

(a) One time expenditure of Rs. 6.63 lacs

(b) Rs. 4 lacs every year even if there are no floods

5. It is, therefore, requested that committee of Calamity Relief Fund may authorize FCR to incur the expenditure upto the limits as indicated above.

Agenda Item No. 30.5 Request for allotment of additional funds from Deputy Commissioners for flood protection works/measures.

Guidelines issued by the Government of India permit utilisation of calamity relief and fund interalia for (i) improvement of the flood control amenities as a preparatory measure (which would include Boats, life jackets and gunny bags etc.) and (ii) restoration of damaged public work viz. roads, buildings, irrigation and flood control works and drinking water supply works to pre-calamity level. Expenditure on new and major flood control protection works and projection and their maintenance is to be met out of regular budgetary provisions. State level Committee has, therefore been permitting releases of funds to undertake works only on vulnerable sites which are crucial for meeting emergent situations during the rainy season.

2. In the current year 2001-2002, an amount of Rs. 7.46 crores was approved for emergent flood protection works in the State Level Committee meting held on 14.2.2001 and released on 5.3.2001. Second installment of Rs. 7.53 crores was approved in the meeting on 17.4.2001 and money released on 8.5.2001 for the same purpose. The Committee took serious view of the fact that the Irrigation Department had not taken adequate steps for completing the works in advance of the Monsoon season. It was also pointed out by the Revenue Department that the prioritized lists of flood protection works duly approved by the District level Committees had not been finalized till February 2001 despite reminders. It was, therefore, decided by the Committee that all the works should be completed by 15.6.2001 and in any case by 22.6.2001 and Secretary, Irrigation assured completion of works by 15.6.2001 on schedule.

3. In the meeting of the Committee held on 15.5.2001, the third and belated proposal of the Irrigation Department regarding release of an amount of Rs. 5.71 crores to 8 districts for some more flood protection works was discussed and the Committee approved release of a sum of Rs. 5.71 crores to the 8 districts of Gurdaspur, Mukatsar, Faridkot, Hoshiarpur, Ludhiana, Kapurthala, Ferozepur and Amritsar subject to the following conditions :-

The Department of Irrigation would record a certificate that the sites identified are the most emergent and critical and with the execution of proposed quantum of work, there is a reasonable assurance of meeting any emergency arising during the rainy season.

All the works would be completed by 15.6.2001 and no financial liability will be created above Rs. 5.71 crores.

The D.C., Gurdaspur, Muktsar and Ferozepur would finalise the list within the allocated amount and send it to Secretary, Irrigation and Financial Commissioner Revenue in a day or so. The Department of Irrigation would start works immediately and complete them by 15.6.2001.

4. However despite the categorical assurance by the Irrigation Department that all emergent and critical works would be executed with the amount already released and with completion of these works, there was reasonable assurance of meeting any eventuality during the current rainy season, following requests have been received from the 5 Deputy Commissioners for additional funds to the tune of Rs. 2380 lacs approx.

SN	Name of the District	Purpose	Amount (Rs. lacs)	Remarks
1.	Gurdaspur	For construction of 14 V.R. Bridges and re-sectioning/ clearance of drains.	99.15	Ref. note of RRM
2.	Nawan- shahar	For flood protection works	350.00	Funds demanded vide Annexure IV & V
3.	Mansa	-do-	65.50	Funds demanded vide Annexure VI
4.	Hoshiarpur	-do-	58.00	Funds demanded vide Annexure VII
5.	Ropar	-do-	1742.45	Funds demanded vide Annexure VIII
6.	Ferozepur	-do-	55.00	Funds demanded vide Annexure

5. As would be seen, most of the works covered in the new proposal including construction of bridges and culverts should rightly figure in the regular budgetary provisions and not brought up for being financed through the Calamity Relief Fund.

Besides, D.C. Gurdaspur has revised the list of works to be executed with the amount of Rs. 235 lakhs sanctioned by the Committee in the meeting held on 15.5.2001. The old list of works is at Annexure-XIII and the new list of works is at Annexure- XIV. The new list includes old projects but the estimated expenditure on the same has been reduced to Rs. 129 lakhs. The irrigation Department may be asked to explain why higher amount was demanded in the first instance.

6. It has been discussed in various past meetings of the State Level Committee and accepted long back that new civil works could not be undertaken with releases from the Calamity Relief Fund. The proposals now received are heavily delayed and due to early on-set of Monsoon as being reported by the Meteorological Department, weather forecast would not be advisable to commence works on new flood protection works. Sufficient funds have been released to the Irrigation Department and Deputy Commissioners too have been provided funds as usual to meet emergent requirements in case of heavy rains or floods.

Submitted for consideration of the Committee.

Agenda Item No.30.6- Release of funds to the Deputy Commissioners for emergent flood protection works.

Every year in June/July we release funds to the Deputy Commissioners for emergent protection works. They can’t undertake new civil works from this amount but this amount will be used exclusively for preventing any danger to abadis etc. and for providing emergent relief to the persons affected by heavy rains & floods. This amount is usually spent on purchase of tents, empty cement bags, payment for diesel and labour in connection with flood works and for providing food, clothing and shelter to the affected population.

2. For the year 2001-2002, following funds for this purpose have been released with the approval of Chief Secretary to Govt. Punjab to the Deputy Commissioners vide sanction order No.1/10/2001/AV/1236 dated 21.6.2001 as follows:

SN Name of District Amount released in lacs

1. Amritsar 15

2. Gurdaspur 15

3. Hoshiarpur 15

4. Jalandhar 15

5. Kapurthala 10

6. Nawanshahar 10

7. Ropar 15

8. Ludhiana 15

9. Fatehgarh Sahib 10

10. Patiala 20

11. Sangrur 20

12. Mansa 20

13. Bathinda 15

14. Mukatsar 5

15. Faridkot 5

16. Moga 5

17. Ferozepur 15

Total: 225

The State Level Committee is requested to accord ex-post-facto approval of the same.

Year

Total: Rs. 571.75 lacs

SN

Area affected

Amount demanded

SN

Purpose

Remarks