Jammu, Aug 29: Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary on Friday appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to sanction a special relief package of Rs 1.60 lakh crore for flood-hit Jammu, describing the devastation as the worst catastrophe to hit the region in the last 100 years.
Choudhary, who toured several flood-affected areas of Jammu, said the extent of damage was far beyond what the region had ever witnessed. “The damage is so immense that I appeal to the prime minister and the home minister to announce a major package. This time Jammu has faced even greater floods than Kashmir witnessed in 2014. A package of more than Rs 80,000 crore is needed here, and the amount must be directly transferred into people’s bank accounts,” he said.
The Deputy CM urged that Jammu be granted double the Rs 80,000 crore package announced for Kashmir after the 2014 floods. “Our demand is that this time, Jammu province should be given double the package that was announced for Kashmir in 2014. BJP legislators must go to Delhi and ensure that people of Jammu get relief on this scale,” he stressed.
Choudhary noted that the central aid announced in 2014 did not reach the common people in Kashmir. “Even today, people say they did not receive that assistance. This time, the funds must go directly into their accounts to ensure transparency and speed,” he said.
Painting a grim picture of the current situation, the Deputy CM said thousands of kanals of agricultural land had been destroyed, livestock lost, and homes washed away. “Whether in cities or villages, devastation is visible everywhere. People have no food, no drinking water, and no electricity. Elders say such a storm has struck Jammu after a century. Compensation is not just necessary, it is urgent,” he said.
He also came down heavily on the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), accusing it of poor-quality work. “The credibility of NHAI is at stake. Why are bridges collapsing repeatedly on the highway? Designs are being made in Delhi without proper study of ground conditions. All bridges and flyovers will now be inspected, and substandard work will not be tolerated,” he warned.
Choudhary further said unregulated construction along riverbanks and large-scale deforestation had aggravated the disaster. “Encroachments on riversides and unchecked cutting of trees are adding to the devastation. Protecting our forests and regulating construction is critical,” he said. [KNT]
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