J&K revises flood relief package to Rs 1500 cr

Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Apr 28: The State Government has sought revised package of Rs 1500 crores for flood rehabilitation in Jammu and Kashmir from the Centre. It has proposed one-third share i.e. Rs 500 crores as contribution from the State in the package.
The Centre has appointed Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley as Co-ordinator between Central and State Governments to address needs of Jammu and Kashmir on five major issues including flood rehabilitation package, funding including Annual Plan and other Centrally Sponsored Schemes etc.
Official sources told the Excelsior that the State Government had taken realistic view of the flood rehabilitation package and projected Rs 1500 crores demand before the Government of India. Of this amount, the State Government would contribute Rs 500 crores while the Centre will have to give remaining Rs 1000 crores.
The previous National Conference-Congress Government had sought Rs 44,000 crores worth flood relief package from the Centre. However, the PDP-BJP Government had gone on record to say that the package had been projected in haphazard manner without doing any ground work.
Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and Finance Minister Dr Haseeb Drabu had stated in the Assembly that the State Government would revise the package and project it before the Centre.
When approached, Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh said that the State Government has taken realistic view of the flood rehabilitation package and projected demand for Rs 1500 crores before the Centre. “We have assured the Centre that the State would contribute Rs 500 crores from its own resources, thus, leaving Rs 1000 crores for the Centre,’’ he said.
The package would be in addition to Rs 2845 crores already given by the Centre to the State Government. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had approved Rs 1000 crores for flood victims during his visit to Srinagar on September 7. On his Diwali visit to the Valley, he had announced Rs 570 crores for rebuilding homes and Rs 175 crore for six major hospitals. Prior to this, Home Minister Rajnath Singh had approved Rs 1100 crores for the State under State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF).
Meanwhile, the Central Government has appointed Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley as Coordinator between Centre and State Government on addressing five major issues raised by PDP-BJP coalition Government including flood rehabilitation package, Central funding to the State during 2015-16, supply of ration on ‘no profit no loss’ basis, package for Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) refugees and issue of power projects (including return of some projects to the State).
Sources said Jaitley was well versed with the problems of Jammu and Kashmir during the BJP days as he had led and participated in several programmes. Moreover, most of the issues voiced by the State Government, involved Central funding and the Finance Ministry involving Jaitley, sources said.
“In future, the State Government will take up all issues voiced by it with the Finance Minister instead of approaching, the Prime Minister, the Home Minister or other Union Ministers excepting where some issues pertained to specific Ministers,’’ sources said, adding issue of ration supply on ‘no profit no loss’ basis and package for PoJK refugees also pertained to the Finance Ministry.
Sources said apart from flood relief package, the Government would now shortly approach the Finance Minister for other Central funding including Annual Plan, Prime Minister’s Re-construction Plan (PMRP), Centrally Sponsored Schemes and other shares on the basis of merit. Prior to that, the Government has to project its case before the NITI Aayog.