Shimla, Aug. 1 -- The state cabinet on Thursday granted ex-post facto approval for providing financial assistance in the form of rent support for affected families residing in relief camps. The decision was taken during Day 4 of cabinet meetings being held under the chairmanship of chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and aims to held the people affected by the widespread devastation caused by torrential rains during the ongoing monsoon season. As per the decision, the families will receive rent assistance through direct benefit transfer (DBT) at the rate of Rs.5,000 per month in rural areas and Rs.10,000 per month in urban areas for a maximum period of six months. As per the state emergency operation centre (SEOC), state has recorded 173 deaths, with 95 attributed to rain-related incidents like landslides, flash floods, cloudbursts, and electrocution, and 78 due to road mishaps, since the onset of monsoon--June 20. Over 1400 houses have also been damaged. Mandi witnessed maximum damage owing to torrential rains. The state cabinet also decided to introduce OBC reservation in the upcoming Urban Local Bodies elections. To facilitate this, it also approved the constitution of a Backward Classes Commission to compile accurate data on the population of Backward Classes before finalising the reservation roster. The cabinet also decided to approve the recommendations of a sub-committee formed under chairmanship of technical education minister Rajesh Dharmani to suggest optimum use of un-utilised vacant government buildings. The committee recommended to use all vacant government buildings in phased manner. It was also recommended to designate a nodal agency for providing space to the government departments, boards and corporations who require the same for setting up their offices. The cabinet also gave nod for the auction of 10 minor mineral quarries in district Kangra and the re-auction of 11 such quarries in district Bilaspur. This is expected to generate revenue of Rs.18.82 crore for the state exchequer, in addition to creating direct and indirect employment opportunities and helping curb illegal mining. It approved the establishment of Tourism Investment Promotion Council to entertain the projects entailing investment of more than 50 crore each. The council will process the cases within a period of 30 days. To check illegal activities at manufacturing units, the cabinet decided to post two home guards each at distilleries, bottling, and brewery plants. It also approved the posting of a state taxes and excise officer at each such plant, with mandatory rotation within the same district after a prescribed period....