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| J&K waits for Centre's nod to declare November 7 as natural disaster | | | Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Ealry Times Report
SRINAGAR, Jan 14: Jammu and Kashmir administration is waiting for the Centre's nod whether November 7 snowfall in Kashmir would be declared as a 'natural disaster' which will pave way for providing adequate relief to affected people.
The November 7 snowfall last year left a trail of death and destruction in Kashmir. At least seven people lost their lives by heavy snowfall which caused heavy damage to public and private property across Kashmir.
Sources said that Divisional Commissioner Kashmir has received reports from district development commissioners about assessment of loss occurred to orchards due to snowfall.
"Divisional Commissioner Kashmir held a meeting with DCs and heads of various departments. It was decided government will declare November 7 snowfall as natural disaster but is waiting for Centre's nod," sources said.
Sources however said there is still no confirmation from Centre whether they will declare November 7 as natural disaster. "Once we get confirmation from New Delhi, affected people will get huge compensation," sources said.
"All departments need to be more pro-active and previous shortcomings should not be repeated," Divisional Commissioner has directed to officials.
Officials have been directed to be well prepared to deal with such situation in future.
Most parts of Kashmir remained without electricity for over several days.. The snowfall also caused a massive disruption in surface transport as roads were not cleared from snow for days.
Valley-based apple growers have estimated 90 percent loss to orchards by snowfall.
According to the Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers cum Dealers Union (KVFG), an umbrella body of all fruit associations of Kashmir, 80 percent of fruit plants of all orchards of the Valley were uprooted after the untimely heavy snowfall.
"The losses of fruit orchards are to the extent of about 90 percent. It would take at least 15 years for the growers to replace a fresh fruit plant with the broken ones," KVFG President Bashir Ahmad Basheer had said.
He said the horticulture sector was the main contributors of J&K economy on which more than 7 lakh families were dependent for livelihood. |
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