Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 13 : Union Minister in PMO with independent charge of Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr Jitendra Singh today issued directives to the administration to take the MLAs on board while taking review of damages caused by incessant rains and floods in J&K and undertaking reconstruction works.
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The instructions were given by the Minister during his tour to flood hit area of Bajalta near here today to make the assessment of the damages caused by heavy rains and flash floods in the area.
Dr Jitendra Singh said the MLAs are messengers of public and link between people and Government hence their participation in undertaking review of damages and in every reconstruction work is imperative.
The Minister toured the flood-affected villages falling in Bajalta and Pargalta Panchayats of district Jammu to assess the damage caused to residential houses and bridges on local Nallahs in the recent floods. He was accompanied by local MLA Yudhvir Sethi and officers from administration.
The Minister visited the sites most affected by flood waters in Bain Bajalta, Tutan Di Khoi, Anthan, Badoon, Khana Shargal and Chalni under Jammu East Assembly constituency. He issued on-the-spot instructions to the concerned officers of the Departments, including R&B, PHE and PWD to undertake restoration and reconstruction work in the affected areas immediately.
Dr Jitendra Singh also met the affected families who narrated their miseries on account of disruption to power and water supply. He expressed solidarity with them, and assured that supply of power and water would be ensured soon, saying that the concerned departments are working on a war-footing to restore the supply of essential services.
Later, Dr Jitendra Singh also visited the affected places under Pargalta Panchayat to inspect the damage inflicted on public property and shops by flash floods. Speaking on the occasion, he said estimates are being prepared by the local administration with respect to the damages caused to public property and crops.
The Union Minister stated that damaged structures would be rebuilt, with better specifications depending upon the experience of the recent floods so that in case there is a calamity like the recent floods in future, the structures should be able to withstand it.
In the last few weeks, Dr Jitendra Singh has been criss-crossing his Parliamentary constituency of Udhampur-Doda-Kathua as well as other affected parts of Jammu & Kashmir to meet the victims of cloudburst and flash floods spanning from Chashoti in Kishtwar to Zero Line on the Indo-Pak border in Kathua and Samba. He also visited Udhampur to meet the affected people and reviewed the restoration work on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway which remained closed for over 10 days due to landslides and caving in of roads at multiple locations.
Earlier, MLA Jammu East, Yudhvir Sethi briefed him about the problems being faced by the flood hit people and damage caused to the infrastructure as well as people’s property in the area.
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