Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, May 17: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is meeting Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh in New Delhi tomorrow seeking a special package for earthquake victims of Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban districts, which had suffered huge devastation in May 1 earthquake followed by repeated aftershocks till a day before forcing people to spend sleepless nights outside their houses.
Official sources told the Excelsior that Omar reached New Delhi this afternoon carrying a very detailed report prepared by the authorities on the basis of assessment of the situation by political leadership and civil administration of the State. He was likely to meet Dr Singh tomorrow for about an hour.
Omar would seek a special package on Leh pattern worth Rs 400 crores to Rs 450 crores for three districts two of which, Doda and Kishtwar were badly hit by the earthquake, sources said, adding the State Government was confident that the Centre would come to rescue of the quake victims.
Though the meeting between the Chief Minister and the Prime Minister was exclusively aimed at discussions on special Central package for earthquake affected people of erstwhile Doda district, Omar could also take up some other issues during the meeting.
Sources said in all possibilities, Omar-Singh meeting would take place tomorrow but the possibility of it being deferred by a day was also not ruled out if the Prime Minister was pre-occupied.
According to sources, the Chief Minister would apprise the Prime Minister of huge devastation caused by the earthquake in the three districts on May 1 followed by repeated aftershocks, which continued as late as May 15 i.e. for a full fortnight. He would submit a detailed report of devastation caused by the quake to Dr Singh including number of houses and other buildings including commercial complexes completely damaged, half damaged and partially damaged. In addition to it, a report about the damage caused to the infrastructure especially in far flung areas has also been prepared.
Clarifying the reports that the Centre has already sanctioned package for earthquake victims, sources said the State has been getting its due share in State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF) every year. The installment was not meant for the earthquake victims. However, the State has already released Rs 25 crores from the SDRF for providing relief to the quake victims.
“The Chief Minister would be asking for Rs 400 crores to Rs 450 crores worth special Central package for the earthquake victims on the pattern of Leh,’’ sources said. It may be mentioned here that Leh had suffered massive devastation in cloudbursts in August 2010 killing over 204 people, injuring more than 600 and rendering a vast population shelterless.
The Prime Minister during his visit to Leh had announced special relief/rehabilitation package of Rs 125 crore
The Leh package had provision of housing in Leh and Kargil by providing financial assistance at the rate of Rs. 2 lakh each to the victims whose houses got fully damaged and Rs 1 lakh each to the victims whose houses got partially damaged. Rs 7.07 crore were given to Leh and Rs 4.33 crore to Kargil for restoration of water supply.
Ex-gratia of Rs. 1 lakh each to the next of kin of deceased and Rs. 50,000 each to the seriously injured in the calamity was given.
Sources said though only a couple of casualties have been reported in earthquake in Doda and Kishtwar districts, the damage caused by the quake was massive. Majority of houses have developed cracks in Doda district rendering them unfit for stay. The people would need funds for repair. In view of aftershocks, the people have been staying outdoors.
The Prime Minister had released 10,000 tents for quake affected people after Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Ghulam Nabi Azad and National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) chief M Shashidhar Reddy had called on him after the tour of devastated areas.
Sources said the Government report for special Central assistance was based on the inputs given by three Ministers, who had camped in Doda, Bhaderwah and Kishtwar on the directions of the Chief Minister. While Planning Minister Ajay Sadhotra camped at Bhaderwah, Works Minister Abdul Mujeed Wani had stayed in Doda and Minister of State for Home Sajjad Ahmad Kitchloo remained stationed in Kishtwar.
In addition to them, the civil administration also toured all remote areas of the districts.
“On the basis of comprehensive reports prepared by the Ministers and the administration, the Government would be seeking the Central assistance,’’ sources said.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today deputed a delegation of National Conference to Doda, Bhaderwah and Kishtwar districts to help the people in this hour of tragedy.
The delegation led by former Minister Dr Sheikh Mustafa Kamaal, Additional General Secretary comprised Devender Singh Rana, provincial president and former Political Advisor to Chief Minister, Sheikh Bashir, Ram Pal, Kashmira Singh, Brij Mohan Sharma, Sajjad Shaheen, Gurdeep Singh Sasan among others. NC MLC from Doda and former Minister Khalid Najeeb Suhrawardhy is already camping at Doda.
“There should be no political on earthquake. We all should go and help the earthquake victims. We should act as a bridge between the people of the quake affected districts and the Government,’’ Mr Rana said.
The delegation would stay in quake affected areas for more than a week.
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