Pardeep Bakshi:
UDHAMPUR: On the one hand State Government is making tall claims of distributing relief to the flood-affected, the story of 25,000 metric tons of rice sent by Chattisgarh Government as a humanitarian gesture tell government negligence.
Chattisgarh Government has sent the consignment to the flood affected in the districts Udhampur, Poonch, Kathua and Jammu and the same is dumped in the open at Udhampur Railway Station as there is no safe storing space. Lying in the open exposed to rain and sun, the bags have torn and large quantity of relief rice is strewn all around either by people or dogs and other animals. The same rice would be given to the people.
This is the open case of pilfering by the elements who are really taking the benefit of the situation. Government has failed to shift the commodities to safer places, allege.
Reports received from various corners of the State including Reasi, Udhampur, Doda, Kishtwar, Kathua, Rajouri, Poonch and the Valley reveal the relief material failed to reach the needy.
The State Government is making tall claims of providing relief and launching restoration operation on war footing but their claims are exposed when the most needed food grains continue to get damaged in rain since long.
Social organizations and other activists expressed their concern over the failure of local administration to shift the quantity of rice to safer places.