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| Rs 1,00,000 crore flood loss and counting, what is exact figure? | | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, Sept 29: After the flood waters start receding in inundated areas the shock of colossal financial losses suffered by private/public properties and commercial establishments has started sinking deep into both the state government and the general public in the state.
The State Government is still unable to state with confidence how much losses have been suffered during the floods in the state.
State Chief Minister Omar Abdullah initially said the state had suffered a loss of Rs.50000 crores, yesterday the Chief Minister said the losses had been to the tune of Rs.70000 crores and speaking to the media persons in Srinagar today, state chief secretary said the initial estimate of losses has crossed Rs. 100000 crores.
When asked whether this was the final figure, the chief secretary said the figure indicated initial estimates while multi-disciplinary teams were busy working out the exact figures.
The chief secretary also said the state cabinet meeting later this week would submit a memorandum of loss to the central government for assistance to meet the colossal damages to private/public properties, agriculture, horticulture, tourism and other infrastructure including roads, bridges, power sub-stations, water supply schemes etc. After more than 20 days the state government decided to address the media giving details of losses, rescue, relief etc in the state and even after so much time it appears the state government is still unable to put itself together.
This is a really serious commentary on the working of a government that has been coming under serious criticism regarding its handling of the pre and post flood situation in the state. While nobody denies the fact that humankind is never fully empowered to counter the vagaries of nature, much less the kind of unprecedented floods those hit the state recently, the fact that the government in power has to be able to quickly get of the initial shock and provide succour to its people also does without saying.
There has been a lot of confusion about who is actually entitled to get free rations for six months as has been ordered by the state chief minister.
It was made clear today by the state revenue commissioner that only those people directly affected by floods would be entitled to such free rations and not all those who might have been indirectly affected by the floods.
One important announcement made by the state chief secretary during today's press conference was that nobody has so far reported with flood triggered serious ailment anywhere in the state. This is a great relief, but the state health department has to be on constant lookout to ensure that flood related infections do not occur in places where garbage, stagnant flood waters etc have been producing foul smell and resulting in bacteria friendly environment.
The task ahead for both the civil society and the state government is huge and long drawn, but it will have to be the state government that must hold the torch for all other organizations to step in with relief and rehab materials. What is also to be ensured is that no individual or organization is permitted to convert this huge human tragedy into a lucrative business enterprise in the name of collecting relief for the flood victims. |
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