*Reviews rehabilitation of Waltengoo snow storm victims
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 13: Minister for Jal Shakti, Forest, Ecology & Environment and Tribal Affairs, Javed Ahmad Rana, today directed for an in-depth study of land-drifting in Mendhar.
He called for assessing the destruction caused by them and ways to build a resilient disaster management mechanism against the same.
The Minister passed on these directions during a meeting held at Civil Secretariat here which was attended by Principal Secretary, Home/DMRR&R, Chandraker Bharti, Secretary, Planning Development and Monitoring Department, Mohammad Ajaz and other senior officers.
The Minister said that the region faces recurrent landslides and land-drifting since 1990’s posing a serious threat to life and property of the inhabitants. He said the events in the region call for integrated preparations for dealing with natural disasters like land drifting in Faizabad and other risk prone areas.
“We need to rope in an expert organisation having vast expertise in the field for an in-depth study of landslides to address all the components of landslide disaster risk reduction and management,” he said. He necessitated evolving an integrated mechanism to ensure the future and dreams of those living in vulnerable areas is secured.
The Minister further said that locals have to be involved in soil conservation, plantation and other measures aimed at mitigation measures.
During the meeting, Javed Rana also reviewed the rehabilitation process of Waltengoo snow storm victims and deliberations were held for their rehabilitation. He said that some families among those affected by the snow storm in the year 2005 at Waltengoo in Kulgam district are yet to be rehabilitated.
“We cannot leave them alone and assure that the affected people of Waltengoo that the Government is committed for their full rehabilitation,” he maintained.
Javed Rana stressed on resolving this pending humane issue on priority keeping the gravity in consideration. He encouraged that convergence plan should be developed to create opportunities for them.
Chandraker Bharti, while speaking on the occasion, said that the experts from Geological Survey of India will be roped in for studying the phenomenon so that we can prepare ourselves better in dealing with such situations.
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