SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday expressed hope that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will go beyond norms for the sake of rehabilitating flood affected people of the State.
“I am hopeful that Prime Minister of India will go beyond norms in supporting the rehabilitation of flood affected Jammu and Kashmir,” Omar said at a meeting with State Economic Reconstruction Forum (SERF), an amalgam of trade bodies, here.
He said Modi mentioned the devastating floods in Jammu and Kashmir in his address at the United Nations General Assembly.
He further said a comprehensive proposal for rehabilitation of the flood affected including compensation to the agriculturists,horticulturists, industrialists, traders, hoteliers, houseboat owners and others who suffered losses in the devastating flood, is being referred to the Centre for approval and early release of funds under the ‘Special Rehabilitation Package’.The Chief Minister said the State Government has constituted a coordination committee under Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, to coordinate the efforts of providing relief to the affected families and cater to the needs of families residing in relief camps.He asked the SERF to build rapport with the coordination committee for making relief programme a public private partnership.Omar told them that he will ask the State Finance Minister to hold a meeting with the representatives of SERF and other trade and industrial bodies to discuss their demands and mention it in the comprehensive recommendation report the State will send to the Centre.The Chief Minister said categorical direction has been given to schools to ensure complete safety of students.”They have been asked to ensure that school buildings are completely safe for the children,” he said, adding 90 to 95 per cent schools have resumed functioning in the Valley.The Chief Minister said no report of epidemic has been reported from anywhere of the State.He said special attention was being paid to check water borne diseases.The Chief Minister said Asian Development Bank will be involved in the reconstruction of damaged public infrastructure.Omar said he has asked his Principal Secretary to start dialogue with the ADB authorities in this regard.The SERF presented a detailed memorandum to the Chief Minister and discussed issues relating to immediate measures to be put in place for the relief and rehabilitation of affected families.The SERF raised issues pertaining to insurance claims, implementation of RBI guidelines for relief measures, ex-gratia relief of Rs 5 lakh to each of those killed in the floods, relief to the injured, relief to those who have lost property, exemption of VAT, exemption of Excise Duty, compensation to businessmen, industrialists, hoteliers, traders, horticulturists, agriculturists and other sectors. (PTI)
