Nagpur: Even 10 days after the July 28 deluge, the loudest demand from flood-hit residents, traders and institutions is not for compensation but for immediate removal of the muck, silt and sewage left behind inside their premises.While civic workers have cleared roads in most affected localities, those living and working in flooded areas say they have largely been left to restore their own homes, shops and institutions at considerable expense.At Somalwar Nikalas School, a filthy layer settled on top of the ground floor. Principal Damodar Thombre said, “Next day, since it was holiday for students, we spent hours removing the muck and disinfecting the premises with our own funds, even as the school was not at fault.”Zafar Khan, founder-president of School Headmasters Charitable Association, said, “Govt must immediately clean and disinfect such premises as we are talking about kids’ health. Compensation can be handled at a later stage.”Traders and residents from several flood-hit neighbourhoods say they have spent heavily pumping out water, removing sludge, disinfecting premises and disposing of damaged belongings. “Roads have been cleaned, but we are still clearing sludge from our shops. We have spent thousands just to make the place functional again. We shouldn’t have to bear that burden when the flooding wasn’t our fault,” said a trader.On Friday, guardian minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said the govt would compensate flood losses as per National and State Disaster Response Fund (NDRF/SDRF) norms. He said Nagpur Municipal Corporation and district collector had completed the damage survey. “I have taken a review. The damage was heavy at some places and minor at others. I will ensure everyone affected gets the relief they are due,” he said.The minister did not specify whether the cost of cleaning and restoring flood-hit private premises would qualify for reimbursement or whether relief would be restricted to the categories covered under NDRF and SDRF norms.
