Shillong, Nov 15: The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) Ranikor Circle has asked the state government to speed up sanctioning of relief fund worth Rs 34.53 lakh for over 1,044 households, affected by natural calamity under Ranikor C&RD Block in South West Khasi Hills district.

In a statement issued here on Wednesday, KSU Ranikor Circle president, Marconi Thongni said that according to information received through RTI, it has revealed that Rs 34.53 lakh has been pending for release to the 1,044 households affected by hailstorm.

“We demanded that the Revenue and Disaster Management department should immediately release the relief fund as proposed by the deputy commissioner of South West Khasi Hills District for the respective affected households,” Thongni said.

He also informed that 702 households which the DC office had asked the branch manager of the State Bank of India at Mawkyrwat to release the fund since September, has not been released till date.

Recently, a delegation of KSU from the area had met the branch manager, who assured that the money would soon be transferred to the bank accounts of the 702 affected families.

According to him, the Union would continue to follow up with officers of the department to ensure that victims of natural calamities get the financial help from the government.