Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Mar 9: The Cabinet Sub Committee (CSC) on Relief and Rehabilitation for Flood Victims has been tasked to pursue with the Union Home Ministry the release of Rs 44,000 crores worth Special flood relief package to rebuild damaged infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir in worst ever floods last September.
The CSC, which returned here this morning after two days tour of the Kashmir Valley, could visit some flood hit areas of Jammu before pursuing the case with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh for early release of the package.
One of the CSC members told the Excelsior that if required the Committee could undertake a visit to New Delhi also to follow the special relief and rehabilitation package with the Union Home Ministry.
The CSC that was recently set up by the Cabinet comprised Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh, Health and Medical Education Minister Lal Singh, PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Minister Sukhnandan Choudhary (all BJP), Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Basharat Bukhari, Works Minister, Syed Altaf Bukhari and Technical Education Minister Imran Nazir Ansari (all PDP).
Official sources said the CSC has gathered all details from the civil administration in Kashmir about the damage to infrastructure and public property during devastating floods of Kashmir, the relief distributed so far among the flood victims and other measures taken for relief and rehabilitation of the people.
“The CSC would now gather similar details of flood hit areas of Jammu region before proceeding further,’’ sources said, adding once the CSC was fully acquainted with the data of flood victims including infrastructure damage, it could call on the Union Home Minister and stress for early release of the special package worth Rs 44,000 crores.
Simultaneously, sources said, other top Government functionaries would also take up the matter with Rajnath Singh for early release of the package so that the Government set into motion the process to rebuild the infrastructure damaged in floods.
The Government would like to pursue the package vigorously once budget session of Parliament adjourns for mid-session break in the middle of this month, sources said.
Governor NN Vohra had during the Governor’s rule met Rajnath Singh and sought immediate release of funds under the NDRF for relief and rehabilitation of victims of last year’s devastating floods in the State.
The Governor had also sought the Home Minister’s support for the clearance of proposals under a special financial package of Rs 44,000 crore to enable rehabilitation of the flood victims and for restoration of the damaged public infrastructure in accordance with the provisions of the NDRF guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
It may be mentioned here that the State Government in October 2014 had submitted a proposal to the Union Home Ministry for financial assistance under NDRF of Rs 44,000 crore, which included Rs 2926.11 crore for providing relief to the affected families and temporary restoration of damaged infrastructure.
Consequently, an inter-ministerial team had visited the State and its recommendations were recently considered in a meeting of a sub-committee of the national executive committee which was chaired by the Union Home Secretary.
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