Kashmir biz circle rebuffs Rs 80K cr package from Centre

The business fraternity in Kashmir today rejected a Rs 80,000 crore package announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the development of the state, saying it was "merely an eyewash".
"This package is merely an eyewash. We reject it. Most of the allocations for various sectors under this package had already been made by this government before and by the previous UPA government," president Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Mushtaq Wani told reporters here.
Wani said a major chunk of the package, about Rs 42,000 crore, has been earmarked for national highway project which would go to the central agency.

"The larger chunk i.E. Rs 42,611 crore of the package is exclusively for Roads and National Highway Projects. The money will go to National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and not to the state government.
"Similarly Rs 5,263 crore have been earmarked for rehabilitation of Kashmiri migrant families, families from Chhamb and PoK and for creation of India Reserve Battalions," he said.
The KCCI president said the Centre had ignored the relief and rehabilitation of the flood-affected people in the package.

"The details of the...Package funds suggest that the Central Government has ignored the requirement of funds essential for relief and rehabilitation of the people who suffered enormous losses in September 2014", Wani said.

Immediately after the deluge, the KCCI put in all efforts to make spot assessment of losses which came out to be over Rs 100,000 crore, he said.
"The same was submitted to the State and Central Governments for consideration and to be dispensed to the people (affected by flood)for rehabilitation and revival of their normal day-to-day activity", Wani said.
The state government however downplayed the assessment made by the Chamber and instead made their own estimates and sought Rs 44,000 crore relief package from the Centre, the KCCI president said.