Modi assures all help to Omar to rebuild Jammu & Kashmir

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and expressing his gratitude to him and the Central Government for timely assistance by way of rescue and immediate relief to the affected people in the regions of Jammu and Kashmir valley.

Abdullah also demanded Special Rehabilitation Package from the Centre to put life back on rails in the State.

Modi assured all Central support to the State for relief and rehabilitation of affected families and reconstruction of damaged infrastructure.

Omar in this regard and vehemently advocated for the liberal and massive assistance from the Central Government for relief and rehabilitation of the flood affected people.

''Our hearts go out for the families who have lost their dear ones" Omar said, adding that the loss to property has been colossal in this calamity.

"We look to you in this hour of grave crisis for all the required support in the second phase of calamity management in terms of rehabilitation of the affected families both in terms of housing and livelihood besides permanent restoration of the public assets," he told the Prime Minister.

The Chief Minister said that while the State Government will immediately role out financial assistance to the affected families from out of SDRF window, a liberal and pragmatic financial package will need to be worked out for the permanent and sustainable settlement and rehabilitation of households devastated by the floods.

He said considering that the residential houses in Kashmir are built at a cost much higher than other parts of the country and in view of limited working season available before the onset of winter, it is imperative that Central Government agrees to the extra ordinary funds for the reconstruction of the fully damaged and partially damaged houses by the affected families, adding that agriculture and horticulture losses also need to be compensated fully apart from providing financial support to the business units affected by the calamity.

He said all these elements will need to be factored into a Special Rehabilitation Package which also aims at addressing the livelihood concerns of a large number of population devastated by the tragedy.

Among other things the Chief Minister also discussed Flood Threat Management Programme and demanded Central approval to the Rs 2200 Cr Flood Threat Management Project of river Jhelum already submitted by the State Government to the Centre.

Omar Abdullah appreciated the role played by the Indian Army, Indian Air Force and NDRF in aid of the civil authorities making the rescue efforts result oriented.

Contributions for relief of flood- hit people in Kashmir can be sent to the J & K Chief Minister's Flood Relief Fund Account number 0110040100001275(IFSC - JAKAO) Of Jammu and Kashmir Bank Limited.