State adopts taluka in Bhuj

State adopts taluka in Bhuj
UNITED NEWS OF INDIA

Mumbai, January 28: The Maharashtra government has adopted Bachchav taluka in quake-affected Bhuj district in Gujarat for rehabilitation. A decision to this effect was taken at an all-party meeting chaired by Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh in Mumbai today. The all-party commiteee has also a been appointed to review the relief work being done by the state government in Gujarat.

Bachchav taluka has been severely affected by the devastating quake that struck on January 26. A large number of residents have become homeless in the 24 villages of the takuka. The Maharashtra government has decided to undertake complete rehabilitation, government sources said.

The all-party committee will coordinate the relief operations extended by the state. ``Aid is coming in large volumes from within the state and it is necessary to manage the collection and distribution effectively,'' Deshmukh said at a specially convened meeting today. The state has set-up a help camp at Bhuj with two senior officials to coordinate distribution of relief material there, he said. The first priority is providing food, drinking water and medical treatement. Rehabilitation will follow in the second phase.

Deshmukh said the Chief Minister's Relief Fund (Gujarat) has been set up and contributions would be fully exempted from income tax. The state Council of Ministers has decided to contribute a month's salary towards the relief fund, he added. Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal said the police have been alerted to check the efforts of unscruplous persons to raise funds for relief operations.