Kullu, Oct 21 : Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu on Saturday launched Punrvaas, a rehabilitation initiative of Rs 4,500 crore, for families affected by the disaster caused by incessant monsoon rains, landslides and floods from here. The Chief Minister released Rs 3 lakh each to 324 affected families of the district, amounting to Rs 9.72 crore, as the first installment through direct benefit transfer for the construction of their houses. The compensation was provided to the owners of houses completely damaged during the disaster for their rehabilitation. Sukhu said this special package would be provided to those hit by the natural calamity from June 24 to September 30. The Chief Minister said he himself had started relief and rescue operations from Kullu in July and the scheme to distribute relief was also launched from here. "The resources of the state government are limited but the spirit to rehabilitate each and every affected is high as the government is standing with the affected. Our government is the government of the common man and of the poor. That is why, despite having a debt of Rs 75,000 crore and liabilities of government employees of Rs 10,000 crore, the government has brought a special relief package of Rs 4,500 crore for the disaster affected families," said Sukhu. Under the rehabilitation initiative, the compensation for a completely damaged house was increased five and a half times from Rs 1.30 lakh to Rs 7 lakh. In case of partial damage to a 'kutcha' house, the compensation has been increased by 25 times from Rs 4,000 to Rs 1 lakh and of partial damage to a house it has been increased by 15.5 times to Rs 1 lakh. He said the compensation for the loss of agricultural and horticulture land has been increased from Rs 3,615 per bigha to Rs 10,000 per bigha and for the damage to crops has been increased eight times from Rs 500 to Rs 4,000 per bigha. The state suffered a loss of more than Rs 12,000 crore. About 16,000 houses were damaged, out of which 13,000 were completely destroyed. /IANS