'Big package' from Centre soon for flood-relief: JK govt

Days before the first anniversary of the devastating floods in Jammu and Kashmir, the state government today said the Centre would soon sanction a "big package" for rehabilitation of the people affected in the floods.
"Centre had given some money which has been disbursed. A big package will be announced soon. You know the government has to go into the details as to where the money will be spent, (but) it will come soon," deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh told reporters here.
Singh said the financial package would be bigger than the Rs 44,000 crore package that was sought by the previous state government.

"The package will be bigger than Rs 44,000 crore," he said.
Traders, separatists and opposition National Conference (NC) have called for a shutdown on the anniversary of the floods on September 7 to protest the alleged failure of the state as well as the central government to rehabilitate the flood-affected people.
The Centre has till now extended financial help of Rs 5,000 crore under different heads since the devastating floods occurred in September last year, leaving over 200 people dead and thousands other homeless.

Asked about the ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu region, the deputy chief minister said Pakistan was getting desperate as it had been isolated diplomatically.

"Pakistan is getting desperate as it has been isolated diplomatically at international level after the NSA talks were called off.
"Pakistan had tried every thing from inviting Hurriyat to ceasefire violations to force India back but India did well by not backtracking from the dialogue. Ultimately, it was Pakistan which backtracked," he said.