Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 11: Centre is announcing a comprehensive economic package for Jammu and Kashmir soon to rehabilitate the last year’s flood victims, develop infrastructure and to take measures for prevention of repeat of September 2014 like flooding that created havoc in the State.
This was disclosed by Union Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley, to a two member delegation of Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries, led by Sheikh Ashiq who met him in New Delhi this evening.
The KCCI president told Excelsior that the Finance Minister assured the delegation that the Centre is announcing the package for the rehabilitation of flood victims and to compensate the losses suffered by the business community and also for taking measures to prevent the future floods in the State.
Sheikh Ashiq said that Finance Minister told the delegation that the Finance Ministry has finalized the comprehensive package for Jammu and Kashmir and it has been sent to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) for clearance. “We hope to get clearance in a couple of days and after three days the package will be announced”, he quoted Jaitley as saying.
The KCCI president said that the meeting with Jaitley lasted for 20 minutes and he listened to the Chamber demands patiently before assuring the comprehensive economic package for the State.
Earlier, the KCCI urged the Jaitley to ensure speedy rehabilitation of flood-hit people of Kashmir. During the interaction the KCCI president stressed the need for launching immediate rehabilitation programme for flood victims.
The KCCI president also demanded tax holiday, exemption for scrutiny, interest subvention, waiver of interest for the flood hit traders. He also pleaded for special financial packages for the State to help revival of economic sectors like tourism, horticulture, handicraft and general trade.
“Union Finance Minister assured us that he will extend all support to make Srinagar a super smart city”, said Sheikh Ashiq.
It may be mentioned here that the Government last year submitted a proposal to the Central Government, seeking a special financial package of Rs 44,000 crore for the rehabilitation of flood affected people.
The floods in September last year caused havoc across the State, affecting Srinagar city and major town besides 5,794 villages across the State. Around 4.5 lakh structures were damaged in the floods besides, 90,000 cattle perished and crops on 6.52 lakh hectares of land was damaged.
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