Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 23 : Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah after the completion of two-day visit of flood affected areas, today approved Rs. 87.45 crore for the relief and restoration measures. Of this, Rs. 77.50 crore would be for the restoration of public infrastructure while Rs. 9.95 crore have been earmarked for private property losses.
The Chief Minister while giving directions for completion of restoration of public infrastructure in a time bound manner asked the Administrative Secretaries to convey it down the lines emphatically so that works are completed timely. He also gave directions for smooth and fast disbursement of compensation to the affected families.
He said the assessment for crop and land losses should be finalized speedily so that affected people get compensation in accordance with the set procedures and as per the provisions of law.
In response to the demand projected by the Housing Minister, Raman Bhalla regarding the funds for restoration of Bahu Fort, the Chief Minister said that the restoration of this important heritage place should be flagged as a priority concern. He said the assessment and other details are being assessed and reported by ASI. “Soon the report in this regard is received from ASI a project for comprehensive restoration of the Fort should be mooted for implementation”, he said and underlined this as an important issue.
In a PowerPoint presentation, Commissioner/ Secretary Revenue, Vinod Koul gave full details of loss of human lives, public infrastructure and private property in the devastating floods in Jammu and Kashmir in the month of August.
Mr Koul said that as per the preliminary damage reports, as many as 31 human lives have been lost in the floods while 22 received injuries. He said more than 5,600 pacca and kachha houses got damaged fully or partially in the floods while crop loss has taken place on 1,738 hectares. He said the total losses have been estimated at about Rs. 140 crore in both the Divisions of the State.
Deputy Chief Minister, Tara Chand, Minister for Finance, Abdul Rahim Rather, Minister for PHE and Flood Control, Sham Lal Sharma, Minister for Housing, Raman Bhalla, Ministers of State, Ajaz Ahmad Khan, Shabir Ahmad Khan and Dr. Manohar Lal were present in the meeting besides Chief Secretary, Mohammad Iqbal Khandey and various Administrative Secretaries, Divisional Commissioners and senior officers.
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