SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today said her Government’s immediate concern is to put in place a comprehensive flood and disaster management mechanism in the State and pitched for prioritizing the works under World Bank loan of Rs 1500 crore to address infrastructure deficiencies in critical areas.
“Having witnessed the devastation of September 2014 floods, we today get panicky, and rightly so, even with a few showers,” she said while interacting with the visiting World Bank Mission team here.
“My Government’s immediate concern is putting in place a comprehensive and efficient flood management programme in and around Jhelum and Tawi rivers as also increasing the outflow capacity of Wullar Lake to prevent the Kashmir valley from future flood threat,” Mehbooba said.
She called for adequate capacity building at various levels in the Government to ensure efficient spending of the World Bank loan which has to be utilized during the next four years.
“Given the State’s resource constraints and lack of matching expertise, external funding and technical advice is imperative to create adequate flood and disaster management capacity in J&K. We will have to put in all our efforts to ensure productive utilization of this money,” she said. (AGENCIES)
Follow our WhatsApp channel
