Kashmir floods: Sub-committee set up to review relief status

A six member Cabinet sub-committee was today constituted by the Jammu and Kashmir government to review the relief and rehabilitation efforts mounted by the state government in the wake of devastating floods in September last year.
The committee, under the Minister in-charge of the Irrigation and Flood Control Department Sukhnandan Kumar, held its first meeting here today, at the Civil Secretariat, an official spokesperson said.
The meeting was attended by its members which include Minister for Finance, Labour and Employment and Culture Dr Haseeb Drabu, Minister for Health and Medical Education and ARI Trainings Ch Lal Singh, Minister for Law and Justice, Parliamentary Affairs and Relief and Rehabilitation Syed Basharat Ahmad Bukhari, Minister for Public Works, Floriculture, Gardens and Parks Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari and Minister for Information Technology, Technical Education and Youth Services and Sports Imran Raza Ansari.

The Committee was briefed by Commissioner Secretary, Revenue Vinod Kaul about the steps taken for providing relief to the affected families and issues yet to be resolved about provision of relief to such families, the spokesperson said.
After extensive deliberations, it was decided that the members of the Cabinet sub-committee will visit the Valley and the affected parts to have interaction with the divisional administration and concerned deputy commissioners to take stock of relief and rehabilitation measures that have been taken in view of recent floods.
The committee will also meet the affected traders and other stakeholders, the spokesperson said, adding that the visit is meant to ensure the administration is geared up for the disbursement of financial assistance which is expected soon.

The meeting was also informed that long overdue relief package of around Rs 44,000 crore is being reactivated in the light of World Bank assessment report.