Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Jan 31: Governor NN Vohra today reviewed security situation and relief and rehabilitation of September 2014 flood victims in Jammu and Kashmir with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in half an hour long meeting in New Delhi. The meeting comes a day after Vohra called on Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley after which Singh had approved Rs 1122.56 crores for post flood rehabilitation works in the State.
Official sources said the major focus of Modi-Vohra meeting was giving pace to relief and rehabilitation works for September 2014 flood victims including Special Package, payment of relief to the flood victims, rebuilding of badly damaged infrastructure and steps required to prevent September like disaster during this year’s Monsoon season.
The Governor briefed the Prime Minister about Rs 1765 crores worth special package given by him for flood victims during his two visits to Jammu and Kashmir. The Prime Minister had announced Rs 1000 crores during his first visit and Rs 765 crores during second visit on the occasion of Diwali festival for the flood victims.
Mr Vohra gave detailed account of relief disbursed among the flood victims so far including on account of deaths, injuries and losses on account of property including pucca and kucha houses, damaged severely and partially in the State and more steps that were required to be taken for the flood victims and rebuilding the infrastructure damaged heavily in the floods.
He briefed the Governor on infrastructure repaired so far.
The Special Package of Rs 41,000 crores for Jammu and Kashmir, submitted by the previous Government, also figured in the meeting, sources said.
It has been decided that for final decisions with regard to Special Package of Rs 41,000 crores, which has been submitted by the Jammu and Kashmir Government, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs shall be the Nodal Authority for all further decisions in regard to the schemes proposed by the State Government.
Sources said the Prime Minister and the Governor discussed the latest status of utilization of funds announced by Modi including a grant of Rs 765 crores from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund and Rs 1000 crores as Special Assistance for reconstruction of damaged public infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir.
As regards the grant of Rs 765 crores, which the Prime Minister had announced during his visit to Srinagar last Diwali, it was noted that after disbursing compensation at Rs 1 lakh and Rs 50,000 respectively for fully damaged pucca and kucha houses respectively, certain funds of this grant would remain for utilization.
Sources said the Governor gave detailed overview about pace of rehabilitation of the people, who had lost their homes and hearths in September floods. He briefed the Prime Minister about the talks he had with Rajnath Singh and Arun Jaitley yesterday evening and thanked the Prime Minister for continuous support to help the State overcome the financial crisis.
Vohra also apprised the Prime Minister about security scenario in Jammu and Kashmir including situation prevailing on the borders with Pakistan and China. The Governor had reviewed the situation prevailing with Pakistan and China borders and internal security at Unified Headquarters meeting few days back and gave an overview of the situation to the Prime Minister.
Governor’s Rule was imposed in Jammu and Kashmir on January 8 following resignation of caretaker Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
The Governor is also understood to have briefed the Prime Minister on political situation in Jammu and Kashmir in the wake of fractured mandate in the Assembly and attempts being made by political parties to cobble up an alliance to form democratically elected Government.
Yesterday, the Union Home Minister had approved fresh assistance of Rs 1122.56 crores for Jammu and Kashmir Government for immediate restoration of public infrastructure damaged by September 2014 floods.
Rajnath had approved Rs 1102.56 crores from National Disaster Response Fund to meet expenditures incurred by the State Government for immediate restoration of public infrastructure consequent of the devastation caused by September 2014 floods.
He had also sanctioned Rs 20 crore from National Rural Drinking Water Programme for restoration of drinking water system in the flood affected areas.
Meanwhile, Union Home Secretary Anil Goswami reached here this morning and visited holy cave shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi ji. He will visit Reasi tomorrow.
The Home Minister had yesterday asked Goswami to visit Jammu and Kashmir to review relief and rehabilitation works for flood victims and border situation.
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