Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Nov 5: To ensure speedy rehabilitation operations in view of ensuing winter season, the Chief Secretary, Mohammad Iqbal Khanday, today convened a high level meeting of officers at Civil Secretariat here.
He got appraisal from all Deputy Commissioners of the Valley through video conference and reviewed the status of relief and rehabilitation process being carried out in the Valley to provide necessary succor to the flood affected people at an earliest.
Divisional Commissioner, Rohit Kansal, Secretary General Administration Department, M.A. Bukhari, Secretary R&B, Tanveer Jehan, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Commissioner SMC, Directors of CA&PD, School Education and Health, Chief Engineers of PDD, PHE and R&B Departments were among those who attended the meeting.
The Chief Secretary was informed by the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir that Rs. 103.89 crores have so far been disbursed among the families whose houses have been damaged besides the family members of those persons who lost their lives in the recent devastating floods as relief. He was also informed that process of providing interim relief among affected families is going on full swing and will be completed shortly.
Mr Khanday directed all the Deputy Commissioners to collect the 16 digit bank account numbers from the affected families whose houses have been fully damaged besides the next of kins of those who lost their lives due to recent fury floods in the Valley so that these account numbers are forwarded to the Central Government for providing Prime Minister’s Relief Fund through direct transfer mode.
The Chief Secretary enjoined upon all the Deputy Commissioners that rehabilitation process should be given top priority so that affected families are settled before the coming winter.
In connection with ensuing winter season, the Chief Secretary received the status report of ration distribution and the supply of essential commodities and LPG and was told that sufficient stocks of essentials for two months have been dumped in the godowns of CA&PD and FCI. He was also informed that the CA&PD Department is also providing free ration to the affected families of the Valley and will provide 210 Kgs of free ration during six months.
The Chief Secretary exhorted upon all the Deputy Commissioners of the Valley to take immediate steps for demolition of illegal constructions in their jurisdictions. He also asked the Deputy Commissioners of Shopian and Kulgam for removal of illegal constructions and plantation in an around the Rambiara and Vishaw Nallahs.
After the meeting on the instructions of Chief secretary, the Revenue Department under SDRF released Rs 200.00 crores more for CA&PD, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Rs 65.00 crores and Divisional Commissioner Jammu Rs 50.00 crores.