Omar hopes Modi will go beyond norms to help flood-hit J-K

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today expressed hope that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will go beyond norms for the sake of rehabilitating flood affected people of the state.
"I am hopeful that Prime Minister of India will go beyond norms in supporting the rehabilitation of flood affected Jammu and Kashmir," Omar said at a meeting with State Economic Reconstruction Forum (SERF), an amalgam of trade bodies, here.
He said Modi mentioned the devastating floods in Jammu and Kashmir in his address at the United Nations General Assembly.
He said a comprehensive proposal for rehabilitation of the flood affected including compensation to the agriculturists, horticulturists, industrialists, traders, hoteliers, houseboat owners and others who suffered losses in the devastating flood, is being referred to the Centre for approval and early release of funds under the 'Special Rehabilitation Package'.

The Chief Minister said the state government has constituted a coordination committee under Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, to coordinate the efforts of providing relief to the affected families and cater to the needs of families residing in relief camps.
He asked the SERF to build rapport with the coordination committee for making relief programme a public private partnership.

Omar told them that he will ask the state Finance Minister to hold a meeting with the representatives of SERF and other trade and industrial bodies to discuss their demands and mention it in the comprehensive recommendation report the state will send to the Centre.

The Chief Minister said categorical direction has been given to schools to ensure complete safety of students.
"They have been asked to ensure that school buildings are completely safe for the children," he said, adding 90 to 95 per cent schools have resumed functioning in the Valley.
The Chief Minister said no report of epidemic has been reported from anywhere of the state.
He said special attention was being paid to check water borne diseases.