Early Times Report
Srinagar, Sept 4: The J&K high court has directed the union government to disclose its stand about grant of relief to victims of last year's flood.
Hearing a Public Interest Litigation, a division bench of Chief Justice N Paul Vasatha kumar and Justice B L Bhat asked Assistant Solicitor General of India to disclose central government's stand about relief and rehabilitation for the victims of the last year's flood.
"Now you are celebrating anniversary and still you are undecided," the division bench said.
The ASGI, advocate S A Makroo sought two weeks to disclose the stand about the relief as well as Rs 44000 crores package sought by the state government last year.
However, the court only granted week's time to ASGI and directed him to file compliance report on Thursday. "On that day, policy for grant of relief formulated prior to 1-4-2015 shall be filed," the division bench added.
On last date of hearing, the division bench had granted the central government two weeks to divulge the status of Rs 44000-crore package sought by the state government for relief and rehabilitation of the victims of last year's worst floods.
In December last year, Vinay Kajla, Joint Advisor National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) had informed the court that soon after receiving the state government's memorandum, an Inter Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) visited the State in October for assessment of damages as per NDRF norms.
"The report of IMCT is in the final stage and would be submitted shortly," he had said.
Regarding the special package sought by NC-congress government, the NDMA officer had said that the proposal has already been sent to Ministry of Finance and the Planning Commission. "The same is under consideration," the officer had added.
However, since then, the court has not been informed about it even as In June this year, the union government announced a package of Rs 1,667 crore.
Nearly 300 people died due to the devastating floods seven months ago and according to the official estimates, 2.5 lakh houses where either fully or partially damaged.
The court was hearing the PIL filed by two lawyers, advocates G A Lone and Jahangir Iqbal Ganie and pertains to death, damage, destruction and devastation to human life, public and private property due to the devastating floods and the consequent remedial measures including rehabilitation, rebuilding, relief and payment of compensation. |
