Adil Lateef
Srinagar, Oct 9: State Government today said that the World Bank has agreed to provide 250 million U$ for the reconstruction of public infrastructure that got damaged during September 2014 floods.
In a written reply to clubbed questions of six members of Legislative Council (LC) where they had asked the Government about steps taken to develop infrastructure damaged due to floods, Relief and Rehabilitation Department has stated that the floods caused huge damage to the public infrastructure. “….The State Government has also taken up matter with the World Bank for funding the reconstruction of public infrastructure on permanent basis for which the World Bank has agreed to provide U$ 250 million, so as to strengthen important sectors like PWD, PHE, I&FC, UEED and SDMA,” the Government added.
It said that the objectives behind the proposed project is to support the recovery and increased disaster resilience in targeted areas of the State entities to respond promptly and effectively to any emergency.
The Government further stated that on the basis of the assessment made by line departments regarding damage to their infrastructure, proposal for permanent restoration of damaged public infrastructure has been projected to the Centre.
“Out of Rs 2926 crore assessed as loss as per the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) norms out of which Rs 1070.66 crore as ex-gratia relief for private property and balance for temporary restoration of damaged public damaged infrastructure,” the Government stated, adding “Rupees 1602 crore which included 500 crore on behalf of Air Force for lifting of the flood victims during floods was sanctioned and disbursed.”
The Government stated that it has provided relief to those people who lost lives and houses during the 2014 floods in Jammu and Kashmir. It stated that a total of 300 people died in Jammu and Kashmir Divisions in the floods and as per the disbursement of relief under State Disaster Response Fund (PMNRF), Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) and Chief Minister’s Flood Relief Fund (CMRF), Rs 444 lakhs (SDRF), Rs 574 lakhs (PMNRF) and Rs 574 lakhs (CMRF) have been paid respectively in both the divisions.
The Government further stated that under SDRF norms, it paid Rs 206.06538 crore as ex-gratia relief to the structure owners whose houses got damaged in all 20 districts of Jammu and Kashmir divisions. As per the Government figures, Rs 168.44471 crore has been paid in Kashmir division while Rs 37.62106 crore in Jammu division.
As per State Government figures, a total of 179606 structures comprising of houses, huts and cow sheds – both pucca and kacha – have been either fully or partially damaged in Kashmir Division while the number stands at 94125 in Jammu Division.