Minister for Jal Shakti, Forest, Ecology & Environment and Tribal Affairs, Javed Ahmed Rana, today visited Buffliaz area of Surankote and interacted with the shopkeepers whose establishments were gutted in a devastating fire incident that occurred a few days ago.
Expressing solidarity with the affected families, the Minister assured them of all possible assistance from the government for their rehabilitation and restoration of livelihoods.“Our Government stands firmly with the affected families and will ensure all possible support to help them rebuild their lives and resume their livelihoods at the earliest,” Rana stated.
It is pertinent to mention that at least 13 shops were gutted in a massive fire incident that broke out at the Main Chowk market in the Buffliaz area of Surankote, earlier this month.The affected shopkeepers apprised the Minister of the extensive losses suffered due to the fire.
They sought adequate compensation and financial assistance for reconstruction of their shops damaged in the fire incident. They urged the government to provide immediate relief so that the affected families, whose livelihoods largely depended upon these establishments, could resume their economic activities at the earliest.
The Minister also listened to the grievances of the residents who projected several developmental demands, including relocation of the Block Development Office (BDO), Buffliaz, to a more centrally located and accessible site.They also raised the demand for construction of a Guest House to cater to the needs of the visitors and travellers, given Buffliaz's strategic importance as a vital link connecting the Jammu and Kashmir divisions.
Rana patiently listened to the grievances and demands raised by the affected shopkeepers and local residents. He assured that the process for providing compensation would be expedited at the administrative level in accordance with the assessment reports submitted by the concerned departments.
As an immediate relief measure, the Minister directed the Forest Department to provide timber and tin sheets to the affected shopkeepers on priority, to facilitate reconstruction of their damaged shops and enable them to restore their livelihoods at the earliest.