Early Times Report
Srinagar, June 24: Amid unhappiness in ruling PDP, the Centre today promised adequate funds to Jammu and Kashmir, which was hit by unprecedented floods last year, for a structured rehabilitation and reconstruction process including sustainable rebuilding of public infrastructure.
The promise was made after a high-level team of central officials, headed by Union Expenditure Secretary Ratan P Watal, held extensive deliberations with the state government over the requirements for putting in place an effective financial arrangement for reconstruction and redevelopment of the public infrastructure in the aftermath of the floods.
"Post-September 2014 floods, there is a need to make greater efforts to restore as well as create new infrastructure in key sectors in the state to provide much-needed impetus to the state economy," Watal said.
The Union Secretary said there would be continuous and assured flow of funds to Jammu and Kashmir to set in motion a structured rehabilitation and reconstruction process including sustainable rebuilding of public infrastructure.
The visit by the central team and its assurance comes against the backdrop of unhappiness in the ruling PDP over the "paltry" amount of relief given by the Union government so far.
The central government has already released Rs 2,602 crore and Rs 2,437 crore is expected to be released soon.
The central team included secretaries and other senior officers from the ministries of Home Affairs, Health and Family Welfare, Power, Road Transport and Highways besides NITI Aayog, Department of Economic Affairs and Central Water Commission.
At the meeting, the state government delegation was led by the Chief Secretary Iqbal Khandey, an official spokesman said.
In addition to reviewing the immediate requirement of funds for rehabilitation and reconstruction of the flood-hit public infrastructure including housing, the central team took a holistic review of the development needs of J&K with focus on key sectors like flood management, road connectivity, power, education, healthcare, drinking water supply, agriculture, tourism and industries. |
