Valsad district administration starts survey of damage due to rain

VAPI: Valsad district administration has started a survey to assess damage due to incessant and heavy rainfall that lashed the district in the last one week.
According to officials, there has been severe damage to road infrastructure and large number of buildings, especially in the last spell of rainfall. The district has already received close to 50% of its average annual rainfall of 100 inches and in the last four days of July, it received 25 inches.
Jagubhai Vasave, district municipal officer said that all urban areas had received more rainfall as compared to rural parts in the last few days, which has left many roads damaged extensively.
"I have instructed all chief officers of municipalities to get detailed survey of damages done immediately," Vasave said.
On the other side, the public works department of Panchayat has prepared a preliminary survey report that pegged the losses at Rs 28 crore. However, this does not include the damage to nearly 100km internal roads said M J Patel, executive engineer, PWD.
A K Minocha, deputy engineer, roads and buildings department, Valsad, said the continuous rainfall within a short span of time has damaged the surfaces of national and state highways as well as the bridges.
Sources from district collector office estimated the damages to be around Rs 50 crore. "This figure could actually double once the detailed report of urban and rural areas is done," said sources.
"As soon as the final survey is completed by local administration we are going to seek funds under a special damage restoration package (SDRP) from the state as well as the central government," said Kanu Desai, Pardi MLA.