As many as 400 families, residing in highly avalanche-prone areas in Gurez border tehsil in northern Kashmir, will be rehabilitated to safer areas, the Jammu and Kashmir government said on Monday.
Replying to the question of NC’s Nazir Gurezi in the Legislative Assembly, Minister of Relief and Revenue Raman Bhalla told the House that 400 families of 13 villages of Gurez border tehsil falling in avalanche zone would be shifted to safer areas.
He said life and property of the residents of 13 villages - Refugi, Chakibiyant, Sudi-Kilshay, Bolonirilvi, Jarijoji, Jurnail-dutt, mazgund, Vazrithal, Neru Nallah, Nayal, Koragbal, Refugi daki and Jawadara - were threatened due to the snow avalanches during winters.
On the directions of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, the District Development Commissioner was asked to prepare a plan in this regard, and in turn he has submitted a proposal of Rs. 9.58 crore to the department for rehabilitation of the families of avalanche prone areas in Gurez at Tragbal, the Minister said.
The Planning and Development department has forwarded the same to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for funding under Border Area development programme, Mr. Bhalla said.
“This includes construction of houses for 400 families at the cost of Rs. 8 crore under BADP. The balance cost required for providing other amenities like water supply, roads has been proposed to be met out of district plan”, he said.
