* Rs 71 crore approved for collapsed houses
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 15: About Rs. 71 crore have been approved for the cases pertaining to total collapse of houses in the recent devastating floods in Kashmir division and 80 percent of the amount has been disbursed to the affected families.
This information was given by Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir in a high level review meeting chaired by Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah here this morning to take stock of the relief and rehabilitation process underway for the flood affected people.
Various Ministers, the Chief Secretary, the Director General Police, Principal Secretaries, Administrative Secretaries, Heads of the Departments and other senior officers attended the meeting being daily called by the Chief Minister to get appraisal of all aspects of the relief and rehabilitation process.
Omar Abdullah directed for intensifying the assessment of losses and directed the concerned Deputy Commissioners to speed up the process by introducing more revenue teams in this regard. He directed the Deputy Commissioner Srinagar to ensure that teams of Revenue Department constituted for the purpose reach to every affected household to record the magnitude and nature of losses to the property etc.
While asking about the status of supply position of essential commodities, the Chief Minister was informed by the Secretary CAPD that 247 trucks loaded with LPG cylinders have arrived at Srinagar and these are being released for distribution among the consumers. He said 210 such trucks arrived at Jammu and the LPG has been released to people there. He said 67 percent ration has been released for distribution in Srinagar and this stands at 80 percent in Jammu.
The Chief Minister was informed that disposal of garbage by the Srinagar Municipal Corporation is of 1500 to 1800 tonnes per day at present. It was stated that for fully clearance of the city areas which remained submerged for quite some time will take another week. It was stated that 500 individual houses have been fumigated in the flood affected areas in two days and the process continues.
The Chief Minister was apprised that as directed by him, the concerned departments shifted 10 additional pumps to Sonawari-Sumbal area for intensifying dewatering operation. It was stated that 15 dewatering pumps are already under operation in these areas.
The Chief Minister also received brief on supply position of power, drinking water, restoration of breaches, roads and bridges in the flood affected areas of Kashmir and Jammu. He also received details on the status of procurement of prefabricated structures.