Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 20: Expressing serious concern over the loss of lives and damage inflicted to civic infrastructure because of flash floods and incessant rains in Bani, Basohli, Tarnah, Billawar, Kathua and Hiranagar areas, former Minister Manohar Lal Sharma has urged the Government to sanction special package and immediate interim relief in favour of the victims.
He also asked the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), Public Works Department (PWD), National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), and Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) Department to keep their men and machinery on standby for road emergency clearance operations.
Seeking immediate restoration of various protection bunds, road network and other public utility services that have suffered damages due to water logging and flash floods, he also demanded shifting of the affected families to Government buildings.
Dr Manohar took a detailed appraisal of the damages caused in Billawar constituency and other pockets of Jammu region and urged the administration for carrying out urgent survey to assess the losses so that those suffered could be compensated. He also stressed the need for immediate restoration of various utility services like electricity and drinking water wherever these have been affected.
The former Minister has sought round the clock functioning of the essential departments and close monitoring of water level in various rivers and Nallas so that necessary preventive and rescue measures are undertaken in the event of eventualities. He exuded confidence that visits of top ranking officials in the flood affected areas will ensure better coordination between various departments and help in mitigating the problems confronted to the people. He stressed the need for dewatering the water logged areas and covering these by disinfectants for the overall health and hygiene. He also sought the survey and assessment of crop damages so that the farming community is adequately compensated.
Dr Manohar also urged the Disaster Management Authority to beef up its operation for rescuing the flood affected people. He expressed serious concern over the losses caused to residential houses and paddy fields due to cloud burst and incessant rains during past three days in J&K and sought appropriate compensation in favour of affected people.
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