NEW DELHI: LG VK Saxena on Wednesday approved the appointment of 40 loss assessors to assist the North East Delhi Riots Claims Commission (NEDRCC) to help expedite the settlement of claims
The NEDRCC was set up by the high court to evaluate the damage to public property caused during the riots in February 2020 between the supporters of the citizenship law and its protesters in northeast Delhi.
"This is a much-needed step. It has been two and half years since the communal riots destroyed many lives and livelihoods. Compensation plays an important role in assisting affected families back on their feet. One hopes that the assessment is completed at the earliest without sacrificing due diligence and the right people get the reparation without further delay.-Timesview"
At least 53 people were killed and over 400 were injured in the violent clashes while property - both public and private - worth crores of rupees was damaged.
About 750 cases were registered in northeast Delhi and over 1,200 persons had been arrested on various charges related to riot by the police.
The Delhi government had announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh for major damage to residential units, Rs 2.5 lakh for substantial damage, Rs 25,000 for minor damage, Rs 50,000 for e-rickshaws and Rs 5,000 for cattle. A maximum compensation of Rs 5 lakh was announced for uninsured commercial units.
In case of the death of an adult, the government had decided to give a compensation of Rs 10 lakh, Rs 5 lakh for the death of an infant, Rs 5 lakh for permanent incapacitation, while Rs 2 lakh for serious injuries and Rs 20,000 for minor injuries. "Even after more than one-and-a-half years, of 2,775 claims submitted till date, the commission has been able to process only 200, which is just about 7%. Of the earlier appointed 25 claim assessors, only 14 had been conducting surveys without any deadline resulting in the prevalent delays," said an official.
After the assessment of damages, the loss assessors submit their reports to the claims commissioner for his recommendations, which will then be sent to the High Court of Delhi. Officials added that the LG has expressed his "displeasure" at the laxity in processing the claim applications causing hardships to the victims who had suffered losses in the riots.
"The LG has also directed that the existing 14 loss assessors submit their reports on the claims assigned to them within three weeks, failing which their services will be discontinued and they will be blacklisted from the panel of assessors," an official further said. According to sources in the LG office, the MHA has been pursuing the issue of early assessment and submission of claims with the government of Delhi since April, as there had been an "unreasonable delay" till now.
