STATE TIMES NEWS
SRINAGAR: Chief Secretary (CS), Mohammad Iqbal Khanday on Thursday convened a meeting at Winter Secretariat, Srinagar to review the ongoing relief measures being undertaken by the Government for rehabilitation of flood victims of Kashmir Valley.
The meeting discussed threadbare various issues related to the rehabilitation process.
The Chief Secretary was informed that Rs. 130 cr have so far been distributed among the flood victims in Kashmir Valley and the process of distribution of relief is going on in the other affected districts of Valley also.
The Chief Secretary said that all those families whose residential houses are fully damaged and are not willing to live in fabricated huts or tents shall be paid rent charges for four months during winter season.
Giving details of the rent structure, the Chief Secretary said that Rs. 5,000 per family would be provided to each affected families in Srinagar city as rent charges, while Rs. 3,500 would be paid as rent charges for those affected families living within Municipal limits.
The Chief Secretary also said that those who are living in villages would be paid Rs. 2,000 per month as rent charges for four months.
Khanday was informed that Public Works Department is constructing 503 residential structures for flood victims in the Valley, besides various NGOs are also constructing residential structures for flood victims in the Valley which include 107 sheds in Srinagar city, 38 sheds in Shopian and 15 sheds each in Pulwama and Anantnag Districts.
The Chief Secretary asked Deputy Commissioners to ensure proper support to the NGOs so that they can work efficiently.
Among others, the meeting was attended by Principal Secretary Planning, B.R Sharma, Principal Secretary Finance, B.B Vyas, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Rohit Kansal, Secretary General Administration Department, Secretary CAPD, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar and various heads of departments.
The Chief Secretary also reviewed relief and rehabilitation measures taken in district from concerned Deputy Commissioners of Valley through Video Conferencing.
On the occasion, the Chief Secretary directed Deputy Commissioners of Anantnag, Kulgam and Srinagar to ensure demolition and removal of illegal encroachments on the river banks.
The Chief Secretary also directed Deputy Commissioner Kulgam to ensure speedy rehabilitation of those four villages in the district which were washed away in the devastating flood. He also directed them to identify the land for rehabilitation for them.
Khanday asked Deputy Commissioner Srinagar to intensify the demolition process of encroachments in Doodhganga and River Jehlum Banks.
The Chief Secretary also reviewed the snow clearance preparedness in Valley and was informed by the concerned Deputy Commissioners that all possible measures have been put in place and snow clearance plan has been formulated besides snow cutters have been kept in the state of readiness at all district headquarters.
Khanday while reviewing the stock and supply position of food grains and other essential commodities including LPG asked Secretary CAPD to ensure smooth supply of LPG in the Valley and directed him to ensure proper functioning of Pampore Bottling Plant.
