September 2014 Flood victims still wait for relief package

Government did nothing for us, allege flood victims

5 Dariya News (Rouf Pampori)

Srinagar 06-Sep-2015

As one year has passed since the floods hit Kashmir, victims are still awaiting comprehensive relief package. Many of them have expressed their disappointment over the slow process of rehabilitation by the authorities.As Srinagar was the worst hit with the September 2014 floods, which rendered hundreds without shelter and killed nearly 250 in the state, many poor people are still waiting to rebuild their collapsed houses and for comprehensive relief package. “We are still waiting for the relief package of the government,” Habib-ullah, a resident of Bemina Srinagar told KNS.The major complaint of the people is that since the floods hit the valley officials have not conducted a proper survey of collapsed houses. People allege that authorities have discriminated against the poor in distributing compensation.“Some families have got four cheques for the same house, as four brothers live under the same roof .That has happened just because they are powerful. Poor people like us didn’t get any,” said Shabir, a resident of Rajbagh said.

He claimed that his ancestral house was collapsed. “Even after one year we have not received any money from the government.People allege that the interim relief of merely 3,800 Rupees was a  joke and accused the government of doing injustice with them. “This is the time of inflations. We cannot even buy curtains for one room with this amount. The government has ignored our plight. They should announce relief for all people who suffered losses due to the floods,” said Mehmooda a resident of Qamarwari, Srinagar.It is to mention here that the government has said that t a big financial package will soon be sanctioned to the state for the rehabilitation of the affected people. “Centre had given some money which we distributed. A big package will be announced soon. You know the government has to go into the details as to where the money will be spent, but it will be done soon,” Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh had told reporters on Saturday.

It is to pertinent to mention here that the devastating floods of September 2014 struck Jammu and Kashmir on the intervening night of September 6 and 7. Property worth billions was destroyed and around 250 people lost their lives and the government was not able to reach out people.Omar Abdullah the then Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir had said on record that he did not have any clue for the first three days about where his government was.People here are alleging that that Modi government did nothing for the flood hit people. “Naredra Modi’s government did nothing for us. He came to Kashmir, took an aerial view of some flood-struck areas, and left. Since then, he has made few visits to Kashmir in which he has always promised compensating the flood victims. But nothing has been delivered on ground,” one of the local resident of Srinagar told KNS. (KNS)