* 25 pc decline in terror violence: HM
Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, June 16: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh announced here today an additional amount of Rs. 1667 crore as a part of the short term relief/ reconstruction measures for Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing a press conference here, Rajnath mentioned that earlier, an amount of Rs. 1602 crore had already been released from National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for immediate relief to the flood affected families. An amount of Rs. 1000 crore has been released as Additional Special Plan Assistance and Rs. 770 crore sanctioned under the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF). Thus, a total of Rs.5039 crore has been provided for short term relief / reconstruction measures for the flood affected State.
Rajnath said the Border Roads Organisation has also been given directions to immediately repair the National Highway from Jammu to Srinagar.
Union Finance and I&B Minister Arun Jaitley informed that today’s announcement of Rs. 1667 crore includes Rs. 838 crore on account of pending liabilities of the Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Plan 2014, Rs. 551 crore additional ex-gratia relief for repair / reconstruction of damaged kuccha houses, Rs. 172 crore for the tourism sector, Rs. 59 crore as subsidy for providing additional food grains and Rs. 47 crore for repair of damaged roads.
Jaitley provided the details of Rs. 770 crore sanctioned under the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) which includes Rs. 570 crore is for reconstruction/repair of damaged pucca and kuccha houses, Rs. 175 crore for damaged medical equipments and Rs. 25 crore for text books to flood affected school children.
The Finance Minister also disclosed that for the long term rehabilitation package for the State, a team of senior officials of the Government of India including CEO, NITI Aayog and Secretary (Expenditure), Ministry of Finance will be visiting the State soon to assess damage and give suggestions/recommendations for various sectors of the State including Power, Roads, Tourism, Education, Health etc. On the basis of these recommendations a long term rehabilitation package will be worked out.
Dr Jitendra Singh,Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances,Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, said that immediately after the reports of floods were received, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the State on September 7, 2014 and announced Rs. 1000 crore Central assistance as first installment of relief. Again, as a unique and rather historic gesture, Modi visited Kashmir on the day of Deepawali on October 23, 2014 when he announced Rs. 770 crore as additional Special Plan assistance, he added.
Dr Singh recalled that the Prime Minister had,during his Deepawali visit, also announced free text books and note books for flood affected school children. Besides the financial help, Prime Minister’s prompt response was also indicative of his concern for the people of the State ,he added.
During the floods, on-the- spot Insurance camps were held at Srinagar and Jammu where Dr Jitendra Singh was personally present.
Finance Minster of Jammu and Kashmir, Haseeb Drabu thanked the Centre and said,this will further help the people of the State.
Union Home Secretary, L.C. Goyal, Secretary (Expenditure), Ministry of Finance, Ratan P. Watal and senior officers of Central and State Governments were present.
Meanwhile, Rajnath singh said there has been 25 per cent decline in terror-related incidents in Jammu and Kashmir which is also witnessing “significant improvement” in security situation.
“Prerequisite for development of any State or country is that a peaceful and secure atmosphere should be there.
“I would like to tell you that there has been significant improvement in security situation in J-K. There is significant decline in level of violence there. Not only this, there is 25 per cent fall of terror incidents,” Singh said.
He said for development there has to be an atmosphere of peace and security, that is “being built by and by in Jammu and Kashmir”.
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