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J&K had no use for disaster management grant, surrendered Rs 30 crore to Centre 9/20/2014 11:36:47 PM Bashir Assad SRINAGAR, Sept 20: In the financial year of 2013-14, National Disaster Management Authority had released Rs 30 crore to J&K State Disaster Management Authority for procuring equipments to deal with emergency situations like the one created by the recent rains and floods in the state. Despite the huge need in Kashmir for preparedness for disaster management, the entire amount of Rs 30 crore was surrendered by the J&K State Disaster Management Authority because it could not find any use for the money. Sources revealed that this grant of Rs 30 crore was transferred by National Disaster Management Authority to the account of Financial Commissioner (Revenue). "The horrific fact is now staring us in the face - that Jammu and Kashmir's political establishment and heavy bureaucratic and police set up neither had any disaster management plan nor any effective system to deal with a calamity. Over the years, there was complete indolence in the system, and our inefficiencies have been revealed now," admitted a senior officer. Sources said that the J&K State Disaster Management Authority had set up a store in Bemina on the outskirts of Srinagar. Their choice of area for setting up a store seems to be comical now, because whenever there was flooding in Jhelum river, Bemina was among the first to be impacted. Pre-fabricated huts go missing Officials of the state administration reveal that the State Disaster Management Authority had earlier procured a large number of pre-fabricated huts for protection in case of an earthquake. "Over the years, the huts became private possession of various senior officers. Some took them away to their houses. Others installed them at their private hotels. We doubt that any pre-fabricated huts would be available at the Bemina store now. In any case, all losses will be written off to the flood now," said a senior officer. Sources said that a top bureaucrat who has served as Divisional Commissioner Kashmir also has installed two pre-fabricated huts at his hotel in Kulan, Sonamarg. "The State Disaster Management Authority had no account of these pre-fabricated huts. And now, after the devastating floods and the loss caused in the Bemina area, no account can be expected from them anyway," said the officer.   Share This News with Your Friends on Social Network     Comment on this Story

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