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| Flood Control Minister maintains 'golden silence,' stays away from operations | | One month on, State Govt fails to fix responsibility for catastrophe | | Fazal Khan
SRINAGAR, Oct 8: A month after Jammu and Kashmir witnessed the worst floods of the century the State Government has failed to fix the responsibility for the mismanagement of the disaster and its aftermath.
Disappointing role played by the officials of the Flood Control Department during the catastrophe has come under severe criticism as none of the officials could do much too even inform the people that Jhelum is roaring and is all set to enter their homes. There was no alarm or siren sounded in any of the areas which got submerged nor was any attempt made to evacuate people to safer areas before the water seeped in. Till date the Minister for Flood Control and senior Congress leader Shyam Lal Sharma has not issued a single statement on what led to administration being caught off guard and Jhelum breaching its embankments at numerous places from south to central Kashmir. When Congress chairperson Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi visited flood hit Jammu and Kashmir recently, the Flood Control Minister, Shyam Lal Sharma stayed away from accompanying them despite entire top brass of Congress from JK moving along with the party stalwarts.
Sources said that Sharma maintaining distance from the Congress and NC leadership and not issuing any statement about the recent catastrophe indicates that he is "not happy" with the way things were handled when floods struck. "Sharma was sidelined by Omar and his close aides and they took control of the operations. The Flood Control Minister being pushed to wall annoyed him," said a source.
He said, "Sharma did not accompany Sonia and Rahul Gandhi during their recent visit to express his resentment against him being dumped by NC leaders when the disaster struck."
The tussle between NC and Congress leaders over what happened during the past one month has added to the woes of flood victims as they are finding it hard to rebuild their shattered homes in absence of any help coming from the State Government.
Authorities not fixing the responsibility on how Srinagar sank too has disappointed people as they want to know why the Flood Control department was caught napping. "There is a full-fledged department meant for handling such situations. Why its pumps were defunct? Why flood gates didn't open? Why had department not entered into any kind of agreement with boat men ahead of floods are the tough questions which the officials would have to answer in coming days," said a source.
He said that Flood Control Department has to enter into an agreement with the boatmen every year that in case floods hit they have to join the rescue operations. "This time around none of the boatmen came forward as the department had not signed any sort of agreement with them," the source added.
An analyst while talking To Early Times said, "Too much politics is being played over a disaster. It's unfortunate. People need help and solace as winter is not so far. Fixing responsibility is must and the Government has to answer the tough questions. At present people at the helm should set aside their differences and work towards rehabilitating the affected people."
The analyst opined that if the State Government continues to work at the snail's pace then Centre should intervene and take over the control of rehabilitation and relief measures. |
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