SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday reiterated his Government’s commitment to ensure fair and equitable relief distribution to those affected by the 2025 floods, assuring that no political or regional bias would influence the process.
Speaking during the Question Hour of the ongoing Autumn Session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, the Chief Minister intervened in response to a query raised by MLA Pawan Kumar Gupta on behalf of MLA Sham Lal Sharma. Abdullah clarified that the existing framework for relief and rehabilitation was sufficient, and no new policy was being introduced.
“The Minister has already given the correct answer. The question is not about the absence of a policy but whether there is a need for a fresh one. We are not introducing a new policy because there is no need for it,” the Chief Minister said.
Outlining the Government’s initiative for landless families, Abdullah said, “We have already announced that five marlas of land will be provided to landless families for construction of houses. The necessary paperwork is underway. For residents, the land will be allotted on a lease basis.”
Addressing concerns over regional parity, the Chief Minister dismissed suggestions of discrimination. “Our policy is not to seek relief for one region while ignoring another. This was never our intention,” he stated firmly.
Abdullah informed the House that a joint assessment of flood damage had been carried out by the central and state teams, including the Home Minister and Agriculture Minister. “After assessment, it was found that Jammu division has suffered comparatively more damage than Kashmir. Accordingly, we have prepared a relief package which is being submitted to the Government of India for approval,” he said.
He further assured that the relief funds, once approved, would be distributed transparently. “There will be no politics, no religion, and no regional discrimination in the distribution of relief. Where there is loss, there must be compensation,” Abdullah emphasised.
Sakeena Itoo informed the House that while no fresh rehabilitation policy had been formulated, a proposal to allot five marlas of state land to each landless family affected by natural calamities—such as floods, landslides, cloudbursts, or earthquakes—was under consideration.
