Hyderabad: Exhibition Society on Wednesday started disbursement of the second and final installment of financial assistance to exhibitors whose stalls were damaged in the January 30 fire at Numaish.
About 300 stalls belonging to 133 exhibitors were damaged in the fire. The Exhibition Society has already returned the rent paid by the exhibitors.
Dr D. Srinivasa Rao, vice-president of the managing committee of the Exhibition Society, said, "We have already returned about Rs 90 lakh to 92 stall holders. We will pay another Rs 1.70 crore as financial assistance based the recommendation of our sub-committee which assessed the damages."
Only a few few exhibitors were yet to receive the compensation.
Mr Srinivasa Rao said the Society had decided to pay Rs 1 lakh per stall for Kashmiri dry fruit sellers, Kashmiri shawls, fur and leather, and cut work, Rs 35,000 for stalls selling lungis and Rs 25,000 for toys and sports goods, Rs 17,500 for crockery and home needs.
Mr Srinivasa Rao said, "We are negotiating with a few exhibitors on the assessment of damage and hope that we will reach an amicable solution."
He hoped that the government will announce compensation on the completion of the official assessment of damage. He said the quantum of financial assistance will be decided for four stalls which were allotted under special category.
Mr G.V. Ranga Reddy, Society Secretary, said, "We have written to the police commissioner for extension in exhibition days." He said the Society had not received any report pertaining to investigation and damage assessment from governmental agencies.
It was observed that a few exhibitors reposed trust in the the Exhibition Society and express their satisfaction over the financial assistance and help provided while a few were not happy with the quantum of aid.
