* Visits flood-hit areas of Jammu
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 4: Former J&K Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti today demanded a comprehensive relief and rehabilitation package for the people here and said that the massive destruction caused by the floods in Jammu region requires crores of rupees for rebuilding lives.
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While talking to media-persons here today, she said Jammu needs to be rebuilt, and added that the BJP MLAs, who received overwhelming support from the people, must push the Centre to announce a large-scale financial package for rebuilding a new Jammu.
“There is a need for a big package. They came from the Centre and announced Rs 209 crore, which is nothing in terms of compensation for the loss. There is a need for crores of rupees, as I have seen the extent of the destruction. The destruction to the houses, animals, materials, vehicles and agricultural lands is huge. So there is a need for a big package,” she said.
The PDP leader said the Union Govt must announce a big package on the pattern of the 2014 floods. This is a challenge for the BJP, which claims to have a double-engine government, she added.
Former Chief Minister said the present administration must also press upon the Central government to announce a comprehensive financial package and extend full support to the affected families.
“There is an urgent need for a relief package that covers everyone — households, farmers, traders, and businessmen — because the losses to property, crops, livestock and livelihoods are enormous,” she said.
Mehbooba demanded that families living along riverbanks, streams and mountain slopes be relocated to safer zones. “People should be given five to ten marlas of land for rehabilitation or strong embankments should be built around nallahs. Jammu has to be rebuilt anew,” she added.
While criticizing LG’s administration former CM said leasing forests and rivers to outsiders in the name of mining and development is worsening ecological destruction.
“Nobody listens to the Supreme Court or the Green Tribunal. People themselves must stand up if we want to save our rivers and forests for the next generation,” she remarked.
On the probe into the deaths of 34 pilgrims at Vaishno Devi, Mehbooba said the Shrine Board must be held accountable. “It is their responsibility. Many more people may be missing than reported. Whether it is a bridge collapse or any other infrastructure failure, responsibility has to be fixed and some heads should roll,” she said.
Meanwhile, PDP president reached out to the affected people in the flood-hit areas of Jammu city and assured them of raising the issue of their rehabilitation with the authorities.
She along with party leaders, visited the flood-hit areas of Peerkho, Bantalab, Gujjar Nagar, and Sunjwan-Bhatindi in the city.
Mehbooba met the distressed families and assured them of full support. She emphasised the need for urgent relief measures and long-term measures to protect people from such crises.
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