HT Correspondent
JORHAT, March 5: Assam finance minister and guardian minister of Jorhat district Ajanta Neog on Sunday distributed a one-time financial assistance of Rs 50,000 each to affected shopkeepers of the over century-old Chowk Bazar which was completely gutted in a devastating fire on February 16 night.
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In a brief ceremony held at the Jorhat Circuit House, Neog stated that though there was no provision in government rules to provide any kind of compensation to the fire-hit traders, but as per the direction of chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, the government decided to provide relief to the affected shopkeepers to cope with the tragedy of such a big magnitude under humanitarian consideration.
She said that the amount of grant to 241 shopkeepers was being done by Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) by the district as per the list of shop owners provided by the Chowk Bazar traders’ body.
The minister said on Sunday that 226 shopkeepers would receive the money in their bank accounts while the remaining would get the amount after they provide their bank account details to the district administration.
The minister also announced that an alternative site to provide temporary accommodation to fire-affected shopkeepers has been finalised after a meeting was held between the traders’ body and district administration along with the Jorhat Municipal Board on Saturday.
She further said that from five probable sites selected by a 10-member committee, a place near the Old Public Bus Stand beside the Mahatma Gandhi Road here has been selected to accommodate the shopkeepers.
The minister also stated that the site will be made ready within a short period to let the affected traders to re-start their business before Bohag Bihu. Neog also announced that the plan to reconstruct the historic Chowk Bazar in a modern way with all safety measures in place has been initiated and funds for the project would be allocated in the State Budget (2023-24) that will be presented later this month.
The minister thanked the traders of Chowk Bazar, district administration officials, elected representatives – Jorhat MLA Hitendra Nath Goswami, Rajya Sabha MP Kamakhya Prasad, media fraternity for their cooperation and initiative in trying to tide over the situation arising out of the tragedy and hoped that situation would be better again.
Kamakhya Prasad Tasa, Hitendra Nath Goswami, Jorhat deputy commissioner Pulak Mahanta, additional deputy commissioners – Damodar Barman and Kabita Kakati Konwar – JMB chairperson and vice-chairman, officials attended the programme.
