SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference on Friday asked the government to distribute the enhanced compensation to the snow affected people at an earliest.
“The snowfall has caused widespread damage to orchardists, houses, dwellings of the people and the cattle shelters have also incurred heavy damages,” said party’s additional Spokesperson Sara Hayat Shah.
Expressing concern over the existing scale of relief for the damage she said, “The relief amount is quite inadequate. It should be enhanced as per the scale of relief given as per SDRF norms. Regrettably, due to non-clearance of roads, the revenue officials have failed to undertake the assessment of losses in far-flung and rural areas of Kashmir division. It is the fifth consecutive day since Kashmir division received heavy snowfall however the divisional administration hasn’t initiated the process of assessment of losses to farmers, orchardists. The havoc played by the heavy snowfall in the shape of destroying dwellings, cattle shelters and devouring precious lives warrants immediate relief. The paltry amount of relief being doled out is not any near to the losses suffered by people. Therefore the compensation needs to be enhanced in view of the sheer degree of damage caused by the weather vagaries.”
People in summer capital Srinagar, Sarah said are aghast as the main roads were not cleared properly even after three days. Main roads and link roads in many areas of Srinagar were still under snow causing problems in commute even for emergency purposes. “Roads leading to hospitals and noted shrines in all district headquarters lie in wait for snow clearance, dewatering. The flying squads are not visible on the ground to control the price rise and black-marketing in markets. The city center is itself full of slush and water, the widespread administrative inertia on Srinagar can well reveal the problems of the people living in far-flung and rural areas. The administration has failed to deliver on ground in the administrative nerve center of Kashmir let alone coming to the rescue of people living in rural areas and towns across Kashmir division,” she said.
Sarah said the administration despite the weather warning failed to take preemptive measures and put in place an effective plan to meet the exigencies post snowfall.
