Mehbooba tours Pulwama, Shopian, Kulgam
Calls for special central package for farmers, horticulturists
5 Dariya News (Muzaffar Bhat)
Srinagar 17-Mar-2014
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president, Mehbooba Mufti has reiterated her call for a special relief package for farmers and horticulturists of Kashmir, who suffered losses as a result of the heavy snowfall. She also stressed the need for permanent institutional safeguards for farmers and fruit growers through insurance and other interventions.Mehbooba today visited many areas in Pulwama, Shopian and Kulgam districts and took stock of heavy losses that has occurred there, especially to the horticulture sector. People in large numbers met her all along the route during her extensive visit and brought to her notice the widespread damage caused by nature’s fury and compounded by administrative inaction.The PDP president was informed that the government had not initiated any survey or assessment of loss, so for and it had no idea of how the people has suffered. She said neither the political leadership nor anyone from the official machinery had visited them even after snowfall. “Many residential houses have been damaged and some families are exposed to the vagaries of bad weather. No help has been forthcoming for them from the government,” she was informed.“Most people complained that internal roads in many areas where still to be cleared of snow and even patients could not reach hospitals for medical assistance.” Mehbooba was informed that the power infrastructure in most of the areas continued to be disrupted and people were generally living in darkness. In spite of this the electric department was pressing for payment of bills even as many families were unable to do so, she was told.Many consumers brought it to the notice of PDP president that there was discrimination even in the rates of electric tariff. “While some consumers were charged at one rate, others were made to pay at a different rate for same consumption. Even as electric supply remained more or less suspended,” Mehbooba was told.On March 15th, the PDP chief had appealed to the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh to send a team for assessing the damage caused to crops and fruit industry by untimely snowfall in the state and announce a special central package on the pattern of Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh for the affected farmers of the state. District coordinator for Shopian District Ataullah Simnani , Incharge Youth wing Waheed Ur Rehman and many others also accompanied Ms Mehbooba Mufti during her visit to these area