Azad for comprehensive action plan for disaster management

Former Union Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad interacting with flood affected people in Mahore area of Reasi on Wednesday.
Former Union Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad interacting with flood affected people in Mahore area of Reasi on Wednesday.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 1: Stressing the need  of  a `comprehensive action plan’ for disaster management, former Union Health Minister and leader of  Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad today said that the floods in Jammu and Kashmir, vulnerable to natural calamities,  have reinforced  the  need  to give due priority to the subject.
“There is the need to have a comprehensive action plan for disaster management. Jammu & Kashmir’s vulnerability to various natural disasters like floods, earthquakes, snowfall is well known and the current natural calamity has only reinforced the need of giving due priority to the subject,” Azad said.
He said that spreading awareness about the threat posed by natural disasters like floods, landslides etc will also help to mitigate their impact.
The Congress leader today toured  Reasi, Gool, Arnas, Mahore Gulabgarh and Banihal areas of  Chenab valley to take stock of the situation and assess damages caused by the  recent  heavy  rains, floods and  landslides.
Accompanied by Minister of State for Revenue (Ind charge) Aijaz Ahmad Khan and MOS Technical Education, Power & Information Vikar Rasool, Mr Azad visited Khanikote, Sungri, Shajroo, Thuru, Dheeda, Bhimdessa and Buzla in Gool, Gulabgarh in Reasi and  Mahumangat, Pogal  and Banihal  in Ramban district. During his visit, he interacted with the affected people.
Expressing solidarity with the people, Azad said he was anguished to see the unprecedented destruction caused to public infrastructure like roads, bridges, power distribution network and water supply systems and private assets like houses, crops, agricultural lands, livestock  etc.
Azad referred to his conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh and hoped that keeping with the assurance given by the Central Government, a special financial package for reconstruction and rehabilitation will be announced in the interest of the State.
Calling for urgent declaration of  the situation as the  National calamity, Mr Azad said that the anormity of  the challenge warrants a liberal financial package, irrespective of partisan consideration in order to restore the broken down infrastructure  and rehabilitate the victims of nature’s fury.
Mr Azad asked the people to approach the concerned authorities for recording their damages  and called upon the administrative machinery to carry out the assessment of damages with sensitivity, objectivity and fairness so that there is no room  left for speculations and misgivings. The AICC  leader called upon the respective Deputy Commis-sioners to extend all assistance  to those who have become homeless in the current situation  and underlined the need of making the relief distribution more prompt.

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