Kishtwar, Kathua tragedies to figure
*Govt staff’s HRA likely to be cleared
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Aug 21: The UT Government Cabinet is scheduled to meet at Civil Secretariat in Srinagar tomorrow morning under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah with recommendation of Assembly session by the end of September and various other items on agenda.
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This will be the first Cabinet meeting post cloudburst tragedies at Chashoti in Kishtwar and two villages in Kathua district in which nearly 72 lives have been lost and many others are still missing.
The meeting is scheduled for 10 AM at Civil Secretariat in Srinagar.
Official sources told the Excelsior that the Cabinet is likely to propose to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha for convening Assembly session in Srinagar by the end of September.
The Lieutenant Governor has to call the session after receiving the Cabinet recommendation on the date recommended.
The Legislative Assembly Secretariat has already briefed the Chief Minister about the dates before which the session has to be called. Budget session of the Legislature had adjourned sine die on April 9 while one-day special session in the aftermath of April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 civilians including 25 tourists and a local were killed, was held on April 28.
The Cabinet is likely to propose holding of the Assembly session in the end of September. It will, however, be a brief session lasting around 10-12 days with 7-8 sittings.
The Omar Abdullah Government was expecting something during Monsoon session of the Parliament which concluded today. The Cabinet had, in its first meeting in October last year, passed a resolution on restoration of Statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. Omar had himself handed over copy of resolution to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
The Cabinet will also discuss Kishtwar and Kathua cloudburst tragedies and what could be done by the Government as far as rehabilitation of the victims is concerned. The Chief Minister had already visited Chashoti where rescue operations are still on and announced compensation for next of kin of dead, injured and damages from the CM’s Relief Fund which will be in addition to SDRF funds.
On the other, the Central Government is also working out on granting compensation to the victims of twin natural calamities.
Promotion of tourism will also figure in the Cabinet meeting, the sources said, adding the UT Government has taken series of steps to ensure return of tourists post April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
A proposal for pending House Rent Allowance (HRA) of the Government employees has also been drafted for the Cabinet clearance.
Various other items of different departments are also on agenda.
Decisions taken by the Cabinet are forwarded to the Lieutenant Governor by the Government for approval.
Worthwhile to mention that there are only five Ministers, besides the Chief Minister. The Government can have nine Ministers. There are three vacancies since the formation of Government in October last year due to which every Minister including the CM has been holding charge of multiple departments.
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