Gujarat government announces rehabilitation package after Surat floods

Gandhinagar, Jul 15 (PTI) The Gujarat government on Wednesday announced a rehabilitation assistance package for traders and businessmen affected by the flood-like situation in Surat on July 6 and 7. The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel. The package includes lump-sum financial assistance of up to Rs 1 lakh for those affected by the heavy rains, interest subsidy on loans and a one-year waiver of municipal property tax to residential and commercial properties. "The government finalised the package during the cabinet meeting to help traders and businessmen in Surat rebuild their businesses," said Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi at a press conference in Gandhinagar. Lump-sum cash assistance will be provided to street cart vendors, handcart owners and owners of small and large cabins so that small businesses in the affected areas can resume operations, he said. The government will also provide Rs 7,500 to lorry or handcart operators. Owners of smaller cabins up to 40 feet will receive Rs 25,000 and owners of larger cabins of more than 40 feet will receive Rs 50,000, an official release stated. Shop owners with permanent structures and GST returns filed for the last quarter will get Rs 1,00,000, it said. Banks and financial institutions will provide loans to affected business establishments and permanent shops whose owners have filed the GST return for the last quarter, the release said. Permanent shops with monthly turnover of up to Rs 7.5 lakh (as per last quarter GST return) will be eligible for interest subsidy of 7% for 3 years on term loans of up to Rs 20 lakh and a maximum subsidy of Rs 5 lakh. Permanent shops with monthly turnover between Rs 7.5 lakh and Rs 15 lakh will be eligible for interest subsidy of 7% for 3 years on term loans up to Rs 25 lakh and maximum subsidy Rs 8 lakh. Permanent shops with monthly turnover above Rs 15 lakh will be eligible for interest subsidy of 7% for 3 years on term loans up to Rs 30 lakh and maximum subsidy of Rs 10 lakh. Eligible beneficiaries seeking lump-sum cash assistance will receive compensation after a damage assessment based on survey findings, photographs, videography, and other supporting evidence, the release stated. They must submit applications in the prescribed format to the concerned Surat Municipal Commissioner, Mamlatdar, or Chief Officer of the Municipality by September 30, 2026, it added. The Gujarat Government has also decided to waive property tax for one year for flood-affected residential and commercial areas in Surat city. Sanitation work was carried out across all affected areas, medical camps were set up to address health concerns, and both the Municipal Corporation and the State Government took prompt action, Sanghavi said. So far, 19,256 families have received cash doles assistance and 39,237 individuals have received cash relief, amounting to a total disbursement of Rs 13.15 crore, the official release stated. Heavy rains in Surat on July 6 and July 7 caused a flood-like situation in many areas around the creek. Shops and houses in Rander, Limbayat, Varaccha and other areas surrounding the city creek were inundated, causing large-scale damage. PTI KVM PD KRK