The eight-member Central team that is in Himachal Pradesh to assess the losses and damages caused due to heavy rains visited the Shimla district today. One team visited Narkanda, Kumarsain and Rampur while the other went to Theog Kotkhai, Gumma, Hatkoti and Rohru.Briefing the media about the damages, Horticulture Minister Narender Bragta said, though the preliminary reports of the revenue and administration have accessed losses at Rs 510 core, the figure might cross Rs 1000 crore. The state has submitted a loss report of Rs 2,076 crore to the Central team, said the officials of the revenue department.“Forty-three lives, 481 cattle and 23,972 hectares of land under agriculture and horticulture was lost in Shimla district. Rs 15 crore were provided for immediate relief to families who lost their family members, cattle and crops and restoration of roads to ensure transportation of apple was done on priority basis,” said Bragta. Replying to a question, he claimed the administration the apple growers were not affected and National Highway and state highway were restored within 24 hours. “There are no apple boxes stranded in the orchards to my knowledge,” said Bragta as he lashed out at former chief minister Virbhadra Singh for behaving in an irresponsible manner during the time of natural calamity.“I have returned from a nine-day tour of the affected villages in the district, the former chief minister has no right to say that the administration did not restore the vital facilities in the area,” said Bragta. HPMC regional office to be shiftedIt has been decided to shift the regional office of Himachal Pradesh Horticulture Processing and Marketing Corporation (HPMC) from Shimla to Gumma for better coordination. Bragta said in the meeting of the HPMC decision was taken to set up fruit processing plants in the apple belt of Rohru, Jarol, Kotkhai and Gumma by next year.
