ISLAMABAD: Over 1.5 billion dollars have been spent so far on the reconstruction and rehabilitation of quake stricken people in NWFP and Azad Kashmir. This was stated by Chairman Earthquake Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Authority (ERRA) Altaf Saleem and Deputy Chairman ERRA Lieutenant General Nadeem Ahmad at a joint news conference.
Chairman ERRA said that Rs 51 billion have been spent on rural and two billion rupees on urban housing schemes, 5.5 billion on livelihood and 24 billion as compensation to the heirs of dead and injured people. He said Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Programme has provided Rs 11 billion.
He said that 23 percent houses have been fully completed, and the remaining 67 percent are about to complete in NWFP and Azad Kashmir. He said over 50 billion rupees have been given as house compensation to the affectees in four installments. He said all affectees except 5000 people have been shifted to their houses.
He further said that monthly assistance of Rs 3000 has been dispersed to 275,000 affected families. He said vulnerable people are being compensated and the assistance to poor women has been extended for further six months. He said livestock, seed and fertilizer is also being provided to the people to generate value added products.
Altaf Saleem said that huge amount has been spent on the construction of rehabilitation centers for disabled persons and added that different NGOs are working on the project. He said artificial limbs have been provided to 400 disabled people. He said two new hospitals are being constructed one each in Battagram and Bagh. Two hospitals, he said, have already been completed in Hattian Bala and Abbottabad and a 50 bed hospital in Ilahi is about to complete.
Deputy Chairman ERRA, Lieutenant General Nadeem Ahmad, on the occasion, said that 102 schools and colleges have been completed and alternate sites for the reconstruction of more than 200 schools is being surveyed. He said College in Rawalakot and Chokoti have been completed.
He further said that 4000 water and sanitation schemes have been completed and 700 are near completion. Pure drinking water is also being provided to the affected families, which will reduce 50 percent water borne diseases, he added.
Ahmad said that power supply has been restored to almost all the areas. He said that 100 million rupees have been spent on Muzaffar-Chokoti raod, Kaghan road and on the reconstruction of Buttle-Battagram road and bridges. Out of 35 roads, six roads have been completed and new roads will be constructed from next year worth eight billion rupees, he informed.-SANA