The Himachal Pradesh Government has adjusted the provisions of the ‘Vidhayak Ksetra Vikas Nidhi Yojana’ (VKVNY) for the fiscal year 2023-24. The modifications encompass protection projects like retaining walls and Nullah channelization, following recent severe rain-related damages to lives and properties. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu stated that legislators can now endorse such projects under this scheme, aiming to expedite relief and rescue efforts. Beneficiaries must provide a certificate/report proving post-June 2023 rain-induced damage to retaining walls or Nullahs, posing threats to homes. MLAs can recommend Nullah channelization if Gram Panchayat officials confirm strata loosening due to rains, necessitating protection for private or communal assets.
Prelims pointer
- Vidhayak Ksetra Vikas Nidhi Yojana (VKVNY): A government scheme allowing legislators to suggest and fund development projects in their respective constituencies, facilitating local area progress.
- Retaining Walls and Breast Walls: Structural barriers constructed to prevent erosion, landslides, and flooding, often used to safeguard infrastructure and properties from natural disasters.
- Nullahs: Small streams or channels that carry rainwater, often prone to flooding during heavy rains, necessitating channelization for flood control and prevention.
- Gram Panchayats: Local self-government units in rural India responsible for governance and administration at the village level.
- Strata Loosening: The weakening or destabilization of the ground layers due to factors like heavy rainfall, potentially leading to soil erosion, landslides, or other hazards.
