Harsh Dev Singh NPP Chairman and MLA Ramnagar has strongly flayed the state govt. for inordinate delay in disbursement of compensation and relief to those whose houses and crops had got damaged in floods, rainfall and landslides that occurred in August last. Expressing grave concern over the apathetic and indifferent approach of the govt., he said that the incessant rains of August had claimed several lives besides causing colossal damages to property, houses , roads , water and power infrastructure as well as standing crops. He said that govt. had assured immediate relief and announced a package of Rs. 9.95 crore for damages to residential houses, private property, standing crops, land erosion and loss of human lives. He said that the issue for early relief had been agitated in the last Assembly Session as well and the govt. had assured to supplement the funding for losses suffered by farmers. He however regretted that the govt. had failed to release even the initially announced amount of Rs. 9.95 crore in favour of the affected farmers who were rendered shelterless. Expressing the need for early release of compensation to the eligible farmers, he said that the govt. had aggravated their woes due to its false assurances.Mr. Harsh Dev Singh further castigated the state govt. for its half hearted and biased survey of the rain hit areas and resultant faulty and flawed statistics collected in pursuance thereof. He said that while the number of collapsed houses far exceeded 10,000 mark in the state, the govt. had merely shown the number at 5600 in its records. He said there were vast majority of villages/areas in District Udhampur, District Kathua, District Samba erstwhile District Doda, Reasi etc which were not even visited by the field functionaries of revenue deptt. thus depriving several bonafide farmers of their legitimate claims of compensation and relief.
Mr. Harsh Dev Singh further pointed out that even if it was assumed that govt. figures on losses were true and house collapse number stood at 5600, with a loss of agricultural land and crops on 1738 hectare and loss of 33 human lives, the govt. needed to explain as to how it was going to ensure restoration of said damaged property and compensate for loss of human lives with a paltry sum of Rs. 9.95 crores. Seeking a review of the compensation announced, Mr. Singh sought early release of announced sum with further releases of additional amount in conformity with the actual damages suffered by the affected people.Mr. Harsh Dev Singh further lambasted the state govt. for excluding rainfall from the purview of ‘natural calamities’. He said that at the national level the rainfall was covered within the ambit of scheme and National Disaster Management Authority provided funds for losses due to incessant rains. He said it was ironical that state govt. had included the losses covered due to floods and landslides under ‘Natural Calamity’ and made them eligible for payment of compensation out of State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) but excluded the losses due to heavy rainfall. He further urged upon National Disaster Management Authority to pay compensation to the state for losses sustained due to heavy rainfall with respect to collapsed houses and damaged infrastructure. He further called upon the state govt. to place some funds at the disposal of District Administration to be kept in District Disaster Management cells. Mr. Harsh Dev Singh further sought additional funds for restoration of damaged public infrastructure in the state. He said that provision of barely Rs. 77.50 crores for the purpose would not suffice as heavy damages were caused to roads, Govt. Buildings, Bridges, Power infrastructure, telecommunication system besides drinking water schemes. He said several villages had been cut off in hilly and remote areas due to washing away of roads and bridges and people were facing great hardships and insurmountable problems as a result thereof.