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| Did Modi Govt expose JK to future flood threats? | | Out of Rs 30K cr, Rs 7854 cr allotted for flood prevention | | Peerzada Ummer
Early Times Report
Srinagar, Nov 17 : Despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi announcing 80 thousand crore rupees for Jammu and Kashmir, the government is yet to evolve a comprehensive plan to tackle the natural disasters including the catastrophic floods that were witnessed in 2014.
Out of total Rs 30000 cores needed for flood prevention by increasing carrying capacity, digging new channels and dredging rivers, there is a meagre amount of rupees 7854 crores earmarked for the purpose.
The amount reflects the government's non- serious approach vis-a-vis the flood threat. Sources within the state's finance ministry told Early Times that there are no major funds approved by the centre to the state under which flood prevention measures could be taken at large.
A senior government official stated that the state government earlier had appraised the federal dispensation about the amount needed to prevent the state from 2014 flood like situation during which the state witnessed the massive damage of life and property. "7854 crore rupees indeed are not going to serve the purpose.
Any time soon, if Jammu and Kashmir faces 2014 like situation, it will be a big disaster-more worse than the previous calamities. No flood spill channels could be widened and besides that the carrying capacity of the rivers cannot be increased at all," he said.
There are also reports that as apparently the state government hailed the package announced by Modi here, in reality there is nothing major on the developmental ground ensured during the package. "The top most priority for the state government was to ensure minimizing the flood threats in future but the package has nothing to offer- thus making JK prone to witness worst natural calamities with government unprepared to tackle the crises," sources said.
Pertinently, the finance minister Drabu had earlier said that in addition to humanitarian relief, around Rs 4000 crore have been earmarked in the Rs 80000 crore economic package for rebuilding flood-affected public infrastructure while another Rs 4000 crore have been earmarked for disaster management.
"The mere amount of 4000 crore is not going to serve the purpose at all. There are atleast 30000 crore needed to save Jammu and Kashmir from future floods. There was a proposal in hand for the construction of flood spill channel from South to North Kashmir. The project now is going to be a distant dream for the state," sources said.
At a time when voices of concern are heard from all sides to secure state from the future flood threats, the chocking of funds from the government would prove worrisome for all.
The PDP president Mehbooba Mufti has taken a serious view of some party legislators hobnobbing with a senior leader of the party, who has been issuing critical statement against the party and for its alliance with the BJP.
According to the sources the senior leader of the party has roped in about seven-to-eight PDP MLAs and they are in constant touch with them. Sources said the senior leader is using them and asking them to pressurise the party to give him a prominent place in the government and issuing veiled threat of breaking away from the party.
"The PDP president has got these reports and had issued strict-bordering threat- to these MLAs to desist from holding secret meetings and not indulge in anti-party activities or a strict action would be taken," said the sources, privy to the developments.
According to the sources, the senior leader, who has been feeling sidelined for quite some time and aiming for top position in the government, though can't hold it as he is not MLA, has been maneuvering the backroom development, has promised these PDP MLAs of prominent position or some valuable favours to it.
"These MLAs are not getting to the eventuality of Mehbooba Mufti getting the government as they are not in her good books so they have been roped in by the senior leader, but the party president has got a whiff about it and this has unsettled them and are starting to fall in line," said the sources.
Party sources said the senior leader though making backroom games has made clear that the hierarchy of the party will not be changed for some. |
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