The Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti today distributed relief and cash assistance among the victims of recent fire incident at Buchwara in which more than twenty five houses were gutted, affecting more than seventy families living there.The assistance includes Rs. 1.05 lakh cash assistance per structure, Rs 50,000 cash assistance per family, clothes, tents and other items of daily use and Rs 2000 per family for utensils and one month’s free ration.Interacting with the victim families, the Chief Minister expressed her sympathies with them and assured them that whatever possible is required would be done for their proper rehabilitation.On the demand of the victim families, Mehbooba Mufti directed the administration to extend the provision of free ration to six months. She said efforts would be made to rehabilitate them at their own places by changing the architectural design rather than relocating them elsewhere.
The Chief Minister said the Government intends to do a lot for the development of Srinagar city in view of the historicity of and the load of civic and urban activities on the summer capital but due to the disturbances in Kashmir Valley not much could be done this season.
Mehbooba Mufti said late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed had put the development of Srinagar city in sharp focus. She reminded the people that the last outdoor activity the former Chief Minister undertook was a detailed tour of the city. She said the late leader had a dream of making Srinagar one of the developed cities of the country which would be duly pursued.The Chief Minister said many developmental and heritage protection projects are in pipeline for the city development and sought cooperation from city dwellers in their execution. She said the old city would be given a new look in proportion to its historic, cultural and heritage background.Similarly, the Chief Minister said the Government has earmarked Rs 50 crore for development of Hazratbal area in terms of infrastructure and heritage in view of the importance of and number of devotees coming to the shrine. She said similar other developmental projects are slated for the city and asked people to help government in their speedy execution.MLA, Sonawar, Mohammad Ashraf Mir; Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan; Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, Dr Farooq Ahmad Lone and other officers were present on the occasion.