J&K Chief Minister Urges Central Government to Announce Relief Package for Flood-Affected Areas

Strategic Insights -

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has called on the central government to provide a relief package for the union territory after extensive damage was caused by floods and crop losses. The Chief Minister visited the flood-affected areas, where he assessed the damage and announced plans to write to the Home Minister, Amit Shah, to request a central team to assess the financial loss in eight districts of the Kashmir region. Abdullah emphasized the need for the damage in both regions of the union territory to be assessed to determine a relief package, highlighting the heavy damage to property, including paddy fields.

Key Takeaways:

  • Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has urged the central government to announce a relief package for the flood-affected areas in Jammu and Kashmir.
  • The Chief Minister has requested a central team to assess the financial loss in eight districts of the Kashmir region, including Kulgam, Anantnag, Srinagar, Budgam, Ganderbal, Baramulla, and Bandipora.
  • The damage to property, including paddy fields, has been heavy, with no reported loss of lives.
  • The Chief Minister has accused his predecessors of negligence for failing to take flood mitigation measures over the past 11 years.
  • A comprehensive package had been prepared in 2014 to increase the carrying capacity of the Jhelum and its flood channels through dredging, but the work was reportedly not carried out properly.

Statistics:

  • 11 years of neglect in flood mitigation measures by the previous governments.
  • 8 districts in the Kashmir region where a central team will assess the financial loss (Kulgam, Anantnag, Srinagar, Budgam, Ganderbal, Baramulla, and Bandipora).
  • Heavy damage to property, including paddy fields.

Sources:

  • Published by: HT Digital Content Services (with permission from United News of India).
  • Date: September 4.