Mirwaiz to build homes for Kashmir flood victims

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, chairman of the moderate Hurriyat group, launched his plan for rehabilitation of flood victims by laying the foundation of a new home for a Kashmiri Pandit here Saturday.

He laid the foundation of a home for Moti Lal in Mandir Bagh area of Srinagar city. Lal had lost his home in the September floods that ravaged the state, rendering thousands homeless.

Lal's wife and daughter carried an earthen lamp as part of the Kashmiri Pandit ritual and they offered sweets to Mirwaiz.

Mirwaiz's secretary Shahid-ul-Islam told IANS that Mirwaiz has started a pilot project of building 100 single-storey homes for those families who lost their homes in the floods.

"Each single storey house was initially estimated to cost around Rs.5.50 lakh, but now we believe it will cost around Rs.6 lakh.

He said they have appealed for public donations to raise the over Rs.5.2 crore needed for the 100 homes.

"We have already received donations of over Rs.1 crore," he said.

Scores of people came to be part of the campaign launched by the Mirwaiz.