Expressing deep concern over massive damages caused to the people especially the business community by devastating floods across the state, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senior leader and party candidate for Amira Kadal constituency Syed Altaf Bukhari has castigated the government for delaying disbursement of an interim reimbursement before a call is taken on the final amount of compensation.In a statement issued to KNS, Bukhari said the damages caused by the ravaging floods are expected to exceed the initial assessments of around Rs 1,00,000 Crore. He said the real loss to the Jammu & Kashmir economy will be much higher since the impact of such disasters is long-drawn and it takes long time before the physical infrastructure is restored.“The setback is abysmal. Small or big, every business house has been hit. Floods have broken the backbone of the business community. Almost every sector especially the business community has to start from zero now. But the government seems least bothered about the plight of flood hit people especially traders who are yet to receive an interim compensation,” Bukhari lamented.
The PDP candidate for Amira Kadal constituency observed that mere statements and figures on damages mooted by the present dispensation cannot provide any succor to the shattered business fraternity and if the government is serious to do something for the flood victims, it should go for a speedy interim reimbursement of the damages. He demanded a minimum of Rs. 5 Lakh interim compensation to be given to each shopkeeper affected and Rs. 25000- per acre be given to each apple grower affected by the floods.
Bukhari said that there are huge damages to almost every sector of the State’s economy particularly to the business community including hotels, restaurants, carpet industry, handicrafts, papier mache, grocery, printing, agriculture and horticulture and whole scenario emphasizes on a need that the floods in Kashmir be declared as a national disaster. The PDP leader remarked that the central government should to go for a liberal funding for the relief and rehabilitation of the Kashmiri flood victims particularly the business community that has now to start from a scratch.
Bukhari said that the State not only needs a liberal compensatory package but also there is a dire need to instill a sense of assurance among its citizens as the ravaging floods have shattered their confidence. Meanwhile, Bukhari has appealed people to observe Eid-ul-Azha with utmost austerity and simplicity and reach out to flood victims, who have lost everything to devastating floods at this hour of their grief. (KNS)