Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Oct 9: Traders whose business was devastated by the last month’s floods have rejected the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s announcement of providing “paltry” compensation to the people whose houses and business was destroyed.
“We reject the amount of Rs 75,000 announced by the Chief Minister for rehabilitation of those people whose houses were destroyed by the floods,” said president Traders Rehabilitation Forum, Farooq Ahmad Dar.
Dar said that the compensation announced by the CM is insufficient and constructing house on this amount is not possible.
“Which house can be built on such an amount in today’s expensive market? This is total discrimination with us. Our wounds need to be heeled up. But such announcements open them up,” he said.
The traders said they had hoped that Central Government would provide compensation to the flood affected people of the State and make them relive their lives.
“We are disappointed that no announcement or package came from the Central Government,” he said.
Dar said the when natural calamities hit Gujarat and Uttarakhand, the two affected States were given full aid by the Central Government. “But this is not the case with us. The devastating deluge was not declared a national disaster,” he said.
The traders have been protesting in a camp on Budshah bridge here after the floods receded and are demanding sufficient compensation for the flood affected.
Dar said on the day of Eid, police used force with them and removed their camp. “We condemn the police action on us,” he said.
The traders alleged that Kashmiris are given a step-motherly treatment by the central Government, and said that if the Central Government cannot afford to compensate the people here, they should allow international aid for the flood affected people.
“We have submitted a proposal to the Government to provide 10 lakh rupees to the people whose houses have collapsed. In addition to it, we have raised many demands in the proposal,” he said, adding, if the demands are not considered by the Government they will agitate.
Dar said the traders will march towards the UNMOG in Sonawar to submit a memorandum for international aid for the flood affected people.
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