Excelsior Correspondent
NAGROTA, Aug 11: MLA and National Conference Provincial President Devender Singh Rana today visited the cloud-burst hit areas of Nagrota Assembly Constituency to have an on-the-spot feel of damages caused to residential houses and infrastructure, especially link and interior roads of nine Panchayat halqas.
“Till the time survey is carried out about losses to the private property, the sufferers should be provided interim relief and restoration works taken up on war-footing basis to ensure unhindered mobility of the people”, Rana urged the Government and assured the people of these areas that all concerned agencies would be approached and mobilized to take up road improvement works.
He expressed solidarity with the sufferers and hoped that the administration will take immediate measures to end the miseries of the people. “I have already taken up the issue with Divisional Commissioner, Jammu and the other concerned agencies and we hope earnest action to follow, keeping in view the extent of damages”, he added.
Rana said that the Government had been urged many a times to have an exigency plan in place keeping in view the experiences of the past years so that the damages caused due to monsoon rains are taken care of timely. He said the thunderstorm has been impacting the power supply as a result of which the drinking water supply also remains affected. “Because of erratic power and drinking water supply during these humid days, the miseries of the people have increased manifold”, he added.
The residents of the affected areas gave a vivid account of damages to the MLA, who said that the divisional administration has been approached for improving and upgrading the roads of nine panchayat halqas of Bhalwal and Mathwar blocks.
The Provincial President also urged the administration to depute teams from the concerned departments for survey of damages so that necessary improvement works are taken up earnestly besides compensation given to those whose houses have been damaged due to incessant rains.
Later, the MLA visited the PHE station upper Jandyal, which has also suffered considerable damages. During his visit, Rana found the entire staff missing in the station.