Shafat Magray
SRINAGAR
Even after the repeated assurances by authorities, several flood-hit families of central Kashmir’s Budgam are still awaiting the compensation. The delay has triggered a host of problems for the families who are presently finding themselves in what they called “a great distress”.
The government, the families said, gave only initial Rs 75,000 for totally damaged house families.
“But that amount,” said Firdous Ahmad, Budgam’s handicraft artisan, “wasn’t even enough to lay base of our houses.” The amount being too insufficient was used to construct tin-sheds, he said. But these structures create lot of problems to these families—especially for elders and children during the ongoing wintry season.
Though the voices decrying inadequate flood compensation are coming from the most parts of the valley, but the Budgam flood affected areas decry the official apathy despite raising the matter to authorities’ notice number of times.
“The government isn’t paying attention to our losses,” said a group of flood victims in Narbal area of Budgam. “It isn’t possible to rebuild our houses. From last 16 months government is only deceiving us by saying we will rehabilitate flood victims but on ground level nothing has been done.”
When contacted the DC Budgam Altaf Mir acknowledged the delay in flood compensation, but, said the next instalment is due. “The flood-affected families will be getting Rs 1 lac soon,” Mir told Kashmir Life.
(Shafat Magray is an internee with Kashmir Life)
