Raja Syed Rather
Srinagar, Sep 17: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said the recent rainfall has caused extensive damage to Jammu & Kashmir. He added that the government is in touch with the centre and is expecting a comprehensive package for the region.
Talking to reporters after visiting multiple places, including Kalaban, Poonch and Udhampur National Highway, Omar said that at the land sinking spot, the people who were living there and got affected cannot be resettled at the place.
The CM, however, said that a government scheme already exists for people who have no land and are being provided 5 marlas to construct the houses. “We have directed the administration to come up with a proposal in this regard and send it for cabinet approval,” he added.
“It is our responsibility to stand firmly with the people in these hard times. Jammu and Kashmir faced extensive damage due to the landslides and floods triggered by the rainfall. There is hardly any place in J&K which has not been affected during the recent rainfall,” he said.
Omar said the government will use its financial power to support the affected. “We are also in touch with the Centre, which recently deputed a team to different parts of J&K to assess the damage. We will put forth our demand and expect a comprehensive package for J&K like Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand,” he said.
The Chief Minister visited Kalaban, Poonch, to oversee the damage caused by land subsidence in the area. He assured full support to the affected families and sanctioned immediate relief of Rs 38 lakh to these families in addition to Rs 50 lakh sanctioned under SDRF. He was accompanied by Minister Javed Rana during the visit.
Omar interacted with the affected families and listened to their concerns. He assured them that the government stands firmly with them in this difficult time and that all possible support will be extended to ensure their rehabilitation.
The Chief Minister also visited Udhampur to inspect the ongoing restoration work on Jammu–Srinagar NH-44. He directed the concerned authorities to expedite the work and ensure smooth movement of traffic, particularly for fruit trucks and essential supplies.
During his on-spot assessment of the restoration work on NH-44, the Chief Minister directed the concerned officials to expedite the process, noting that the prolonged closure is severely impacting the supply of essentials, including fresh fruit.
This marked the Chief Minister’s second visit to the affected site and came a day after he, along with the Union Minister for Roads, Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, reviewed the progress of restoration efforts.
