Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, June 9: The Government of India will be shortly deputing National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog Chief Executive Officer, Sindhushree Khullar and Secretary Expenditure in the Union Ministry of Finance, Ratan P Watal to Jammu and Kashmir for financial requirements of Jammu and Kashmir including September 2014 flood related damages.
“Based on their report, a final decision will be taken by the Government of India on treating Jammu and Kashmir as special category State or not, assess its other financial needs which the Centre can fulfill and progress on relief and rehabilitation measures for flood victims including the help the Central Government can extend further,” official sources told the Excelsior.
They said the Central Government has asked the two top officers to proceed to Jammu and Kashmir soon, inter-act with the Government representatives including Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, top brass of Planning, Finance and other major Departments and report to the Union Finance Ministry on requirements of the State related to different sectors including devastating floods of September last year.
The visit of the two officers comes close on the heels of resentment in the Government circles as well as the flood victims over delay in sanction of any further flood relief package for the State after initial amount approved by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in addition to recent World Bank approval of Rs 1500 crores worth grant for public infrastructure.
Sources said the Centre had tasked Ms Khullar and Mr Watal to inter-act with the Government representatives especially those dealing with Relief and Rehabilitation Departments apart from Planning and Finance and work out details of their requirements to help the Centre take decision on the financial requirements of the State and flood package. Both of them could proceed to Srinagar, the summer capital of the State, shortly.
Sources said though the Ministry of Home Affairs, which deals with the packages, hasn’t taken any decision on flood relief package for Jammu and Kashmir, it would take a decision on return of the two members from Jammu and Kashmir shortly keeping in mind similar requirements of other States, which are hit by floods during Monsoon. Similarly, the Union Finance Ministry would take into consideration the recommendations of the two officers and take steps to help the State.
Sources pointed out that the Centre has already released Rs 2845 crores to the State Government. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had approved Rs 1000 crores for flood victims during his visit to Srinagar on September 7. On his Diwali visit to the Valley, he had announced Rs 570 crores for rebuilding homes and Rs 175 crore for six major hospitals. Prior to this, Home Minister Rajnath Singh had approved Rs 1100 crores for the State under State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF).
The World Bank had recently approved Rs 1500 crores for building public infrastructure damaged by the floods in Jammu and Kashmir.
Two high level Rapid Need Assessment teams of the World Bank had worked out as Rs 21,000 crores worth damage to official infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir during September 2014 floods and decided to provide an equal amount to the State as loan assistance to rebuild it.
“The Government of India would repay the loan amount in installments while the State Government would get the amount as grant, a decision that would go long way in rebuilding badly damaged infrastructure in the State during worst ever floods in September 2014,” sources said.
Official sources said the World Bank has released Rs 1500 crores as first installment for rebuilding the damaged infrastructure in phases.
“However, depending upon utilization and spending capabilities and satisfied with the restoration of infrastructure, the World Bank is likely to fund entire amount of Rs 21,000 crores, which they have themselves assessed as requirement for the damages,” sources said, adding the amount would be released in the phases.
The Government of India would repay the entire amount granted to Jammu and Kashmir as World Bank loan assistance while the State Government would get the amount as grant-in-aid, sources said, adding this will go long way in rebuilding bridges, roads, buildings including Government schools and other Government infrastructure, which was shattered in September 2014 floods.
Sources said the World Bank’s Rapid Need Assessment teams had visited different parts of Jammu and Kashmir along with top officers of Jammu and Kashmir to see for themselves the damage caused to Government infrastructure in the devastating floods before the Bank approved Rs 1500 crores worth first installment for rebuilding the public infrastructure.
The World Bank, however, didn’t offer loan assistance for damage caused to private property like houses, shops, crops and commercial buildings etc.
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