September floods: CS reviews relief, rehabilitation work

The chief secretary Mohammad Iqbal Khanday on Wednesday reviewed the relief and rehabilitation measures underway in Kashmir and Jammu divisions in a meeting here.

The chief secretary Mohammad Iqbal Khanday on Wednesday reviewed the relief and rehabilitation measures underway in Kashmir and Jammu divisions in a meeting here.

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Khanday received briefings from both the divisional commissioners and from deputy commissioners via video conferencing regarding the status of ex-gratia disbursement to flood victims and their proper rehabilitation.

Khanday directed the deputy commissioners to ensure zero-pendency in respect of disbursement of rent as announced by the government in favour of all those families who have preferred to stay in rented accommodations.

He said the concerned district administration should ensure suitable facilities to all those families who have preferred to stay in pre-fab shelters constructed for them at various places across the state.

The divisional commissioners informed Khanday that an ex-gratia amount of Rs 5 lakh announced by the government in favour of all those families whose next of kin lost their lives due to September floods has been handed over to the affected people.

It was informed that an amount of Rs 156 crore in Kashmir division and Rs 42 Crore in Jammu division has been disbursed as relief among the flood-affected families.

Meanwhile, while reviewing the demolition drive underway to clear encroachments especially along river and canal embankments and waterbodies, Khanday directed the concerned departments to step-up the effort further and submit weekly reports.

He asked the irrigation and flood control department to step up dredging/de-silting process in major rivers and canals besides strengthening the embankments.

The DCs informed the meeting that the demolition drive has picked up pace and scores of illegal structures and thousands of trees along river/canal banks have been removed. More such illegal structures and trees shall be removed in coming days, they told Khanday.