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| Two years on, Chenab valley quake victims await compensation | | 'UPA Govt dumped Rs 607 Cr relief package forwarded by Omar led regime' | |  Asif Iqbal Naik
Early Times Report
Jammu, May 18: The quake victims of Chenab valley are still waiting for compensation. On May 1st and May 14th, 2013 quakes shook the Chenab Valley leaving scores dead and thousands homeless.
The victims have accused the government of discriminating against them.
Anchoring their hopes slightly upon the ongoing relief mission in Kashmir valley, the local questioned the different yardsticks adopted by the authorities at the helm of affairs as their unintentional survey reports have biting the dust at official spheres till date and quake victims are still eluded from the benefits even after two years since the 5.9 magnitude earthquake on Richter scale first shake the dreams of many people living in this mountainous belt of the Jammu region.
Around 100 successive earthquakes/aftershocks that hit the area in 2013; more than 80 % residential houses in entire region developed cracks. As per the government data , in May 1st and May 14th 2013 midnight earthquake in Doda district alone 29,000 houses were damaged partially, 10500 severely and 655 fully.
Similarly, in Kishtwar district 18000 houses have been reported partially damaged, 2700 severely and 70 fully. In Ramban district few government and private structures has also been reportedly damaged in these earthquakes. In Doda district government property worth over 80 crore has been damaged and in Kishtwar Rs 12-14 crore has been reported as loss to the government property. In Doda District 494 schools, 12 PHCs and 273 Community centres have been damaged severely.
Similarly in Kishtwar 374 schools have been reported as damaged and scores of people were injured, mostly the school children's. Even though various political parties assured the people about special package from centre, but the majority of victims till date even not get a single penny as compensation.
The then state government headed by Omar Abdullah soon after the earthquakes hit the area, through ministers, politicians, state officials and with the help of visiting central team and other officials group also prepared a detail survey report of the damages caused due to these earthquakes prepared the proposal of Rs. 607 Cr relief package and forwarded the same to the then UPA government after state cabinet passed it, but the same was put in dust bin by the UPA government in power. Former Chief Ministers Omar Abdullah and Ghulam Nabi Azad also strongly pitched for sanctioning of relief package for earthquake hit areas of Chenab region during former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh function at Chowghan ground Kishtwar on 25th of June 2013 in which UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi was also present, but the former PM Manmohan Singh even did not mention a word in his speech over the issue.
While talking to "Early times", several earthquake hits victims of Chenab region flaws state as well as Modi government for denying the relief to them at par with the "Flood victims" wherein the government is going to provide Rs. 5 lac financial assistance to completely damaged structures while in case of earthquake victims of Chenab region, there is the provision of providing financial assistance of only Rs. 35000 for completely damaged house, while 18000 for major damages and Rs. 2800 to partial and Rs. 1800 for minor damages.
"We have four MLA's from BJP including a minister from Chenab valley--- I regret their silence and the promise made by them during election campaign--- We have also MP representing us in Modi government as MoS in PMO, but still Rs. 607 cr relief package passed by the state cabinet for Chenab valley earthquake victims has no tracker" said angry victim.
The victims also questioned the role of BJP ministers for not raising the issue vigorously with the center so that Rs. 607 Cr relief package for Chenab valley earthquake victims biting dust with union government could be cleared at an earliest.
"Our three storied building suffered massive damages due to constant earthquakes, but till date nobody visit to our house and neither we get any compensation from the administration" said quake hit victim, added that several ministers along with local politicians visited few adjacent villages of Bharabatta, Huller and few other areas of Kishtwar, but nothing was done till date.
Another victim said that his three story building got damage beyond repair, and government prepared a case of Rs. 28000 on paper which is far less than the loss of over Rs. 30 lacs which he had suffered in these earthquakes. He said that since then he and his family has taken the shelter at his relative house.
Many earthquake victims of Chenab valley said that they feel happy that centre and state government are sanctioning relief for flood affected peoples of the state, but at the same time are hoping for equal attention from the state as well as from the centre while dealing with the relief cases of earthquake victims of Chenab region pending in various government offices since long. Some people even demanded clubbing of earthquake hit victim cases of Chenab region with the cases of flood affected victims for speedy disposal. |
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