Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed Monday visited centre centre Lal Chowk to assess the situation arisen out of incessant rains. The Chief Minister who was accompanied by his ministers Syed Altaf Bukhari, Haseeb Drabu, Muhammad Ashraf Mir and others interacted with traders who appealed to him convert the newly constructed park in the heart of Lal Chowk into parking slot. The Chief Minister assured them that he would look into the matter.The traders also apprised him about the problems faced by them and people in general due to September 2014 floods while the Chief Minister assured them his government will not only compensate the common affected people but will also rehabilitate them.Later, Mufti Muhammad Sayeed told reporters that it will not be those traders who have insurance cover but also those traders who were not having insurance cover will be compensated.
“We will take a decision in this regard and will try to compensate the traders lacking insurance cover,” he said adding that people who suffered due to devastating floods will also be compensated.Responding to a question, Chief Minister who suddenly appeared in Lal Chowk said that by the grace of God, the situaion in Kashmir will improve and people will come out from the trauma which they have been facing on account of flood threat. He said almost every member of of his government is present in Kashmir who are in touch with the people and playing their role in mitigating the sufferings of the people. “I appeal people to have faith in my government. I arrived from New Delhi and directed all my party members to be present in Kashmir. We will Inshallah cope up with the prevail situation,” he said.
Meanwhile, an official handout said that Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed today visited Lal Chowk area and met the traders whose shops were facing threat of inundation due to drainage failure following incessant rains in the area.
The dewatering has since been completed and the waterlogged roads have been restored in the business hub of the city.
Minister for Public Works, Syed Altaf Bukhari, Minister for Finance, Dr. Haseeb A Drabu and Minister of State for H&UDD Mohammad Ashraf Mir, besides Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, DC Srinagar and Chief Engineer I&FC, Kashmir were also present on the occasion.
Interacting with the trading community, Mufti Sayeed said he has made on-the-spot assessment and the Government will take all steps required to prevent water-logging following continuous rains. He said the Government will also start next month distribution of relief among and rehabilitation of the flood-affected people in a three-phased manner.
Those small-time businessmen, traders and destitute who don’t have any insurance cover will be taken up in the first phase,” he said and added he has taken an assessment particularly in terms of preparedness to face the emerging situation.
The Chief Minister who had air dashed to Srinagar yesterday following the heavy rains personally supervised the Government’s efforts throughout the night and directed setting up of camps at safe places for people of affected areas in case of emergency and if need be.
During the review meeting held last evening, the Chief Minister had issued instructions to press into service all de-watering pumps in Srinagar city to clear the inundated areas. Lal Chowk was also inundated yesterday, but after the dewatering pumps have been used uninterruptedly, the roads in and around the business hub have been cleared of water logging. (CNS)