The Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (Erra) has released another tranche of Rs 1.8 billion for families affected by the devastating October 2005 earthquake in AJK and NWFP. This brings the total housing subsidy to Rs 35 billion released so far for 446,538 families, an Erra report said on Saturday.
Out of Rs 1.8 billion, the Erra has provided Rs 691 million to the Provincial Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Agency (Perra) of NWFP and Rs 1.14 billion to the State Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Agency (Serra) of AJK.
The disbursement in the first and second phase following the earthquake has been completed, while the distribution of funds in the third and fourth phases is underway. The report said a few cases of grievances were currently under process and payment would be made upon finalisation of such cases.
In addition to 2nd tranche of financial help to the quake-affected people in NWFP and AJK, Erra has also released a sum of Rs 853 million to Perra and Serra as 3rd tranche of housing grant for 34,131 families. The affected people in NWFP and AJK have completed construction of their houses up to plinth level in line with the Erra guidelines for seismically safe structures.
Giving the district-wise break up, the report says Erra has disbursed a total amount of Rs 10 billion in Muzaffarabad, Rs 5.9 billion in Mansehra, Rs 4 billion in Bagh, Rs 3.1 billion in Batagram, Rs 2.8 billion in Poonch, Rs 1.7 billion in Abbottabad, Rs 0.83 billion in Kohistan, Rs 0.4 billion in Shangla, Rs 0.88 billion in Neelum and Rs 200 million in Sadhnoti.