Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Abdul Haq Khan, on Sunday launched several flood protection works in north Kashmir with the foundation laying of two flood channels in Kupwara district.These flood channels, to be constructed with an estimated cost of Rs 5 crore in border villages Kalaroos and Gangbung Badibera, will help in averting floods by diverting water under a well-planned project which will save precious lives and agricultural land as well.Pertinently, the Minister launched several flood protection works from Anantnag district last week, only a week after Prime Minister announced a special package of Rs 80000 crore for Jammu and Kashmir.Abdul Haq, while addressing the people at Kalaroos, said the government has prioritized flood related works in Rural Development sector to safeguard public properties and lives from floods. He said Prime Minister's special package will help the State to develop a solid flood protection infrastructure that will include dredging of rivers and streams, construction of bunds and flood channels.
Besides special package, funds under MGNREGA and 13th FC are being diverted for flood related works which has received a good response on ground, he added.Haq said several development initiatives are in pipeline to ensure all round transformation of developmental landscape of Jammu and Kashmir. He said judicious and timely use of funds will be instrumental in changing socio-economic profile of the people living in rural areas besides creating employment opportunities.Cautioning people of encroaching state land especially in flood prone areas, Abdul Haq said the encroachers will be dealt with an iron hand and the government would not hesitate to remove all such illegal occupations that would be identified during execution of flood protection project.The Minister was accompanied by DC Kupwara besides other officers of Rural Development and Irrigation and Flood Control.