Flood victims take shelter in makeshift huts near Shivnarayanpur platform in Bhagalpur. Picture by Amit Kumar

The cabinet on Tuesday sanctioned an advance of Rs 290 crore from the Bihar contingency fund for relief work in flood-affected districts.

The decision assumes significance as the government is distributing cash and foodgrain among the victims of deluge, cabinet co-ordination department secretary Brajesh Mehrotra said.

He added that the India Meteorological Department’s forecast of havoc rain in some districts of north Bihar on Tuesday had prompted the government to purchase more foodgrain.

Chief minister Nitish Kumar, reviewing the flood and drought situation in the state, directed officials concerned to carry out relief and rescue operations on a war footing in the flood-hit districts. Sources said around 66 lakh people have been affected. About three lakh families have been given relief material. Nitish also directed officials to distribute diesel subsidy in districts, which have received scanty or deficient rainfall. The cabinet also approved the urban development department’s proposal to set up an abattoir in the state capital under a public-private partnership mode.

The cabinet also extended the tenure of a committee led by V.S. Dubey for another six months till February 28, 2014. The committee has been probing the veracity and authenticity of sanctioned teaching and non-teaching posts, appointments, transfers, promotions, pay fixation, arrear payments and others.

The cabinet also gave its nod to the home department’s proposal to set up a police station in Dagarua block of Purnea and two outposts at Hemjapur in Dharhara block of Munger and Kudawa in Bounsi block of Banka.

It also sanctioned Rs 33.80 crore to carry out computerisation process of public distribution system. The cabinet also gave its nod for promotion of 34 officers in the Bihar Administrative Service, adding that they would be promoted to the post of additional collector from deputy secretary.