The maximum compensation payable has been fixed at Rs1 lakh.
There is good news for medium and small traders who suffered huge losses during the communal riots of 2002. At least 19,373 such traders, including 298 in South Gujarat region, will soon get compensation from the Rs85.75 crore released for the purpose by the Union government a few months back.
Sources in the Surat district administration said a survey to verify the affected traders will begin shortly. The maximum compensation payable has been fixed at Rs1 lakh.
The state revenue department has asked all district administrations to submit a list of affected traders, after conducting a proper survey and verification of compensation claims. A copy of the government resolution in this regard has been received at the Surat district collectorate too.
"Out of the 298 traders affected during the riots in South Gujarat, 281 are from Surat district, 15 from Navsari district and two from Valsad district," an official at the Surat district's revenue department said on the condition of anonymity.
"In all, Rs1.66 crore would be paid as compensation to these traders. A survey to verify the traders will start shortly," the official said.
He further said that the Central government had paid Rs10,000 as compensation to each affected trader soon after the 2002 riots.
"But the traders felt the amount paid was too little," the official said. "To get more aid, they filed an application in the Gujarat high court. The petition is yet to be disposed of but the Union government decided to pay further compensation with the maximum amount payable to one trader being Rs1 lakh."
The central government has asked the Gujarat government to do the necessary work required to ensure that the compensation money actually reached the victims. The revenue department of the state government has been entrusted the task of paying the compensation amount to all the 19,373 traders, the official explained.
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