Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 24: Minister for Disaster Management, Relief & Rehabilitation & Floriculture, Javaid Mustafa Mir today said the State Government has devised a multi-pronged roadmap to deal with any eventuality.
Winding up the discussion on demand for grants for Disaster Management, Relief & Rehabilitation & other allied departments in the Legislative Assembly, the Minister said that over the past two years, there is a paradigm shift in the approach of the Government towards disaster management and it has flagged this important component in the highest priority.
Development cannot be sustainable unless disaster mitigation is built into the development process”, he said.
Listing some major and visionary initiatives taken by the Government to deal with the natural disasters in the State, the Minister said that now the focus has been shifted from traditional relief distribution towards, disaster preparedness and mitigation.
The Government has established a structured institutional mechanism to deal with disasters, under which, the State Disaster Management Authority is headed by Chief Minister.
Further to next level, the Divisional Disaster Management Authorities established for effective and efficient management of disasters and at the lower level, District Disaster Management Authorities have also been strengthened.
With a view to provide professional assistance for strengthening State & District Disaster Management Authorities, 17 disaster management professionals have also been engaged to assist the authorities, he said.
The Minister said to ensure safety of schools the Chief Education Officers have been designated as Nodal Officers.
With regard to Civil Defence, the Minister said that the State has in place two dedicated Battalions of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and it has also initiated the process for upgrading the SDRF with adequate manpower, capacity building and equipment support. Besides, we are also supporting Fire & Emergency Services, he added.
Listing preparedness activities, he said 274 rescue operations, 211 mock exercises, 638 awareness camps, 176 training camps, were held in past year, while 10516 volunteers and 12361 students were trained in disaster rescue and 607 officers and officials of SDRF imparted advanced training till date.
The Minister informed the House that J&K is amongst the first few states in the country to have initiated the Disaster Mitigation Fund and the Finance Minister has already kept a budgetary provision of Rs 10 Crore under the head.
He said under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes, “sustainable Reduction of Disaster Risk (SRDR)” Rs 39.632 lakh were allotted for disaster preparedness programmes in district Poonch and district Anantnag and and under another CSS “Aapda Mitr”, 200 volunteers would be trained in flood response in Srinagar district.
Informing further fund availability, the Minister said that under SDRF, Rs 15.00 crore has been released during current financial year to meet any contingency arising due to natural calamities, while under PMDP, Rs 54.29 crore was released to I&FC Department for permanent restoration of flood damaged infrastructure.
He said that Rs 14.14 crore has been released as State Disaster Mitigation Fund of which Rs 58.75 lakh were provided to each Deputy Commissioner, to spend 50% for procurement of emergency rescue equipments and rest on other components for strengthening SDMA and DDMAs.
The Minister informed the House that Rs 1839.17 crore has been paid to more than one lakh and 81 thousand eligible beneficiaries who were affected during 2014 floods 2014:
“The damages in losses to certain sectors are also being covered under the Prime Minister Package”, he added.
Spelling out the various initiatives taken for Kashmiri migrants during the year 2017, he said that Prime Minister’s Package for the return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri migrants has been a key initiative aimed at ensuring the dignified return of Kashmiri Pandit families to the Valley.
In 2017-18, 3000 additional supernumerary posts have been created under the Programme, in various departments. Out of 3000 posts, 2575 posts have been referred to the concerned recruiting agencies and will be filled up shortly, he added.
He said that out of 3000 posts created earlier, selection/appointment orders have been issued in favour of more than 2900 candidates till December, 2017. Besides, this various developmental initiatives have also been undertaken at various KP townships and settlements.
The Minister said that Rehabilitation Package is being provided to the displaced families from PoJK and Chhamb under the PMDP for an amount of Rs 2000 crore under which an amount of Rs 5.50 lakh is being provided to each displaced family (Rs.5,49,692 as Central Share and Rs 308 as State Share).
With regard to measures taken for relief and rehabilitation of cross border firing victims, he informed that the relief and compensation would be now paid at the rates equal to (National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) that are fixed from time to time.
Besides, 14460 bunkers which include 1431 community bunkers and 13029 individual bunkers costing Rs 415.73 crore have been sanctioned to mitigate the hardships being faced by people living on International Border/LoC, due to Cross Border firing he said.
He further informed that ex-gratia relief paid to NoK of killed @ Rs 1.00 lakh from the State Government scheme and cases for ex-gratia relief under the CSS @ Rs 5.00 lakh each are under process.
With regard to Floriculture Department, the Minister said that the garden tourism is not only the important source of attraction to tourists but also serves as important source of research and development to plant/environment scientists, landscapers as well as botanists.
While informing the House about the financial status of Floriculture Department, the Minister informed that out of total Rs 1909 lakh CAPEX Budget for the year 2017-18, an amount of Rs 1225.28 lakh has been incurred ending December 2017.
The Minister said that during 2017-18, Rs 58.54 lakh has been released under these Centrally Sponsored Scheme schemes.
Later, the House passed with voice vote the grants amounting to Rs 146728.95.
Several members took part in the discussion. Initiating the debate Ravinder Raina appreciated the Minister for streamlining the functioning of the Departments under his control.
He advocated for justice to refugees living in Jammu by providing them compensation as announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi besides taking steps for their permanent rehabilitation.
He alleged that there is lot of corruption in PRO Office and allegations are being made that they don’t get the justice and the files of 2014 flood victims are still pending and 96 cases in his constituency were given only first installment of relief. He demanded relief for 2016 hailstorm victims of his Constituency as well as Rajouri district.
Moreover the border firing victims whose cattle are killed or injured be provided compensation for that.
Shamima Firdous apprised the Government of the problems faced by the 2014 flood victims in her Constituency and demanded immediate distribution of relief among the flood victims of 2014.
Usman Majid took BJP to task for exploiting the sentiments of Kashmir Hindu migrants and alleged that the Government was doing nothing for their rehabilitation during its over three years rule. He said all facilities were extended to them during Congress Government while their displacement took place during V P Singh’s rule. He said that House be informed what action plan the Government has for their return and rehabilitation. He said if any one came to the rescue of the community that was Late Shiv Sena chief, Bala Sahib Thakery while BJP exploited them only.
Noor Mohammad Sheikh urged the government to start dredging process of Hokersar and Wullar to increase the capacity of these water bodies so that floods are avoided in future.
Bashir Ahmad Dar said the Kupwara district was also hit by 2014 floods and urged the government to provide relief to victims who have not received flood that time.
Pawan Gupta demanded compensation to the victims of Hail storm in his Constituency besides reconstruction of infrastructure damaged in 2014 floods. He urged the government for the permanent settlement of Kashmiri Pandits. He also urged government to start construction of Amusement Park in Udhampur at earliest as land has been transferred to the Department.
Mohammad Akbar Lone recalled the floods of 50’s and said the then Government provided sufficient relief to every victim besides rehabilitating the victims despite the State having limited resources at that time and urged the Government to provide relief to the orchardists whose orchards were damaged during floods in Sonawari Constituency.
Krishen Lal Bhagat raised the issue of the damage caused to human lives and livestock owing to cross border firing and urged Government to provide relief to these victims at earliest.
Choudhary Mohammad Akram demanded for sanctioning of plots for those whose houses were damaged due to heavy rains in his Constituency and also urged for early release of compensation to the people living nearer to the border areas affected due to cross border shelling.
Javid Hassan Beigh stressed for strengthening of Disaster Management and Relief Rehabilitation department. 2005 earthquake and 2014 flood victims.
Sukhnandan Kumar raised issue of cross firing and demanded to have a Bullet proof vehicle to every police station near border areas so that these vehicles can be used to evacuate injured people during border shelling besides providing one Fire tender in every such volatile areas.
M Y Tarigami said the House is the place where we need to find solutions to the problems faced by the state since 1947 with regard to the refugees and internally displaced people. He called for permanent resolution of these issues which is beyond providing relief and rehabilitation.
Abdul Majid Larmi urged the Government to provide compensation to the 2014 flood victims whose houses were permanently or partially damaged.
Mumtaz Ahmad Khan said many people die owing to frequent landslides in Kandi belts, attacks by wild animals and other calamities faced by rural people and he demanded provision for providing compensation to such people facing area specific disasters.
Raja Manzoor urged Government to train local people in far off places including border areas so that they help at the time disasters as these areas remain cut off most of the times.
Altaf Ahmad Wani urged Government to have a one-time settlement of Kashmiri migrants by framing a concrete policy in this regard. He also urged to strengthen Disaster Management system and demanded to develop the floriculture as an industry.
Syed Farooq Ahmad Andrabi demanded compensation to livestock losses of Kaprin area of Dooru Constituency.
Mohammad Amin Bhat demanded for early release of pending compensation to the victims of 2014 floods in his Constituency.
Daleep Singh Parihar demanded for enhancing of compensation up to Rs 5 lakh to the fire victims and developing of Parks in his Constituency.
Sheikh Ishfaq Jabbar demanded for developing of Golf Course, Floating Gardens, Rock Garden, Picnic Spot and Children Park in district Ganderbal.
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