Setback for flood victims Centre rejects relief package, tells J&K Govt. SRINAGAR: The Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) led Central government is unlikely accept the state government’s proposal for relief and rehabilitation to the flood victims of the State.It had conveyed the State administration to accommodate relief and rehabilitation process from its own resources instead waiting from the Central funding. In backdrop of the September floods, the State government had submitted a proposal of Rs 44,000 crore seeking special assistance package from the Central government for relief to the flood-hit people.A team deputed by Union government also carried out on-spot assessment of damages in the affected areas of Kashmir and had submitted its recommendations. However, since than BJP led Central government has remained silent over the package despite several reminders that were made by the State government. Now all eyes will be on the next government in Jammu and Kashmir how it could convince New Delhi to release the funds for the rehabilitation process. “The Union home ministry has asked the State government to accommodate the relief and rehabilitation process in its annual plan. The Central government has told the State administration that it won’t be possible for the Centre to accept the proposal and release such a huge amount so that J&K has to find a way from its own sources,” a senior official of the Finance Department said. However, he said it was not possible for the State to carry out relief and rehabilitation on its own funds. The official said the State has limited resources and was entirely dependent on Central funding for relief and rehabilitation to the flood victims. “The State government has conveyed to New Delhi that people have been struggling and shiver amid the chilling cold due to delay in accepting the proposal,” he said. However, he said all eyes are on the formation of the next government how it could convince the Union government about accepting the proposal. Official sources said around Rs 900 crore under the SDRF has been utilized by the State government and Rs 1000 crore annuned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi too have been utilized. “The State has no more funds to continue the relief and rehabilitation of the flood victims,” sources said. They said the State has been utilizing its own funds but won’t continue the relief and rehabilitation process if there is further delay in release of funds from the Centre. Earlier, BJP President Amit Shah had lashed out at the NC led government in the State for “gobbling Central funds”.He had asked Omar Abdullah to “come clean” on Rs 1700 crore “released by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for rehabilitation of flood victims”. However, Omar hit back at BJP President for “falsifying facts” about the amount released by the Centre for the flood-affected people of the state, saying Rs 1700 crores was “not even enough” to raise the basic infrastructure.
Posted on: Tue, 06 Jan 2015 07:12:21 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015