Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Sept 23: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today assured Chief Minister Omar Abdullah a comprehensive and liberal assistance from the Government of India for flood ravaged Jammu and Kashmir shortly. Modi gave the assurance to Omar during half an hour meeting with the Prime Minister in New Delhi this afternoon.
Official sources told the Excelsior that Modi, who had himself visited Jammu and Kashmir to assess damaged caused by the floods and has also obtained reports from his other Ministers, who have visited the State, assured the Chief Minister that the memorandum submitted by the State Government to him earlier through seven Cabinet Ministers has been carefully examined and majority of demands of the State would be considered.
On Omar’s major demand for immediate relaxation in the norms of State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF) for increasing amount to persons, whose houses have collapsed or damaged, the Prime Minister is reported to have agreed to the demand for onetime payment to the people, whose houses have collapsed, extensively, severely or partially damaged so that the people are adequately compensated for the losses.
The Centre has so far released Rs 2400 for flood relief works in Jammu and Kashmir which included Rs 1000 crores announced by the Prime Minister during his visit to the State, authorization of entire Rs 1100 crores funds under SDRF, Rs 200 crores announced by Surface Transport Ministry, Rs 100 crores by Tourism Ministry and amount given by several other States apart from individuals like Bill Gates.
Sources said the Prime Minister has assured Omar Abdullah that the Centre will be very liberal in extending all possible help to Jammu and Kashmir in this hour of crisis and no efforts would be spared to help the people badly affected by the floods.
In his tweets after meeting with the Prime Minister, Omar lauded the Centre for supporting flood-hit Jammu and Kashmir in the hour of need.
Omar wrote on twitter: “Appreciate all the support of GOI & look towards that continuing as we try to rebuild shattered lives & livelihoods”. He further said: “Returning to Srinagar after meeting @PMOIndia.”
The Chief Minister said that he had briefed the PMO about the prevailing situation.
“Briefed him (PMO) about the situation & the efforts currently underway to return to normality,” one of his tweets said.
Omar apprised the Prime Minister about present situation in the Kashmir Valley and steps taken by the Government to completely remove water from the localities, sanitize areas and prevent spread of epidemic.
The Prime Minister has reportedly assured the Chief Minister that his demand for Rs 2200 crore worth Flood Threat Management Programme would be considered for approval.
Omar sought Rs 2200 crore in addition to special rehabilitation package for the State as Flood Threat Management Project over river Jhelum for permanent solution to water logging in the Valley during Monsoon. The project has already been submitted to the Centre.
According to sources, the Centre was likely to come up with another installment of funds and authorize the State to relax norms under SDRF for payment to the people, whose houses have either collapsed or damaged. The SDRF has provision of payment of very meager amount for flood affected people and, therefore, the State was seeking relaxation of norms for one time settlement so that the people hit by floods could re-construct and repair their houses.
In his meeting with Modi, Omar sought a special rehabilitation package from the Centre for the flood-ravaged State, sources said, adding the Centre has, in principle, agreed to compensate the State for the losses suffered by it.
Pitching for liberal assistance from the Centre, Omar told the Prime Minister that such a package was necessary for putting life back on rails in the state.
Thanking the Prime Minister for timely assistance by way of rescue efforts and immediate relief to the affected people, Omar told Modi that the State was looking up to the Centre “in this hour of grave crisis”.
The Prime Minister shared the concerns of the Chief Minister and assured him that the State was not alone in the crisis and entire country stands by the people of Jammu and Kashmir. “We will do everything possible to help the people of the State,” he reportedly assured Omar.
“Our hearts go out to the families who have lost their dear ones,” Omar said, adding the loss to property has been colossal in this calamity.
“We look up to you in this hour of grave crisis for all the required support in the second phase of calamity management in terms of rehabilitation of the affected families both in terms of housing and livelihood besides permanent restoration of public assets,” Omar told the Prime Minister.
He said while the State Government will immediately role out financial assistance to affected families from out of State Disaster Relief Fund, a liberal and pragmatic financial package needed to be worked out for permanent and sustainable settlement and rehabilitation of households devastated by the floods.
“Considering that the residential houses in Kashmir are built at a cost much higher than in other parts of the country and in view of limited working season available before the onset of winter, it is imperative that Central Government agrees to the extra ordinary funds for the reconstruction of the fully damaged and partially damaged houses of the affected families”, Omar said.
He said the Prime Minister assured all Central support to the State for relief and rehabilitation of affected families and reconstruction of damaged infrastructure.
The Chief Minister said agriculture and horticulture losses also need to be compensated fully apart from providing financial support to business units affected by the calamity.
All these elements will need to be factored into a ‘Special Rehabilitation Package’ which also aims at addressing the livelihood concerns of a large number of population devastated by the tragedy, he said.
The Chief Minister appreciated the role played by Army, IAF and NDRF in aid of the civil authorities making the rescue efforts result-oriented.
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