The Centre on Monday sanctioned Rs. 200 crore for immediate rescue and relief operations in flood-hit Jammu and Kashmir, said Chief Minister Mufti Sayeed to the Assembly in Jammu today, according to an official press release which came in the form of a clarification.
The clarification was issued after Mr. Sayeed told the Assembly that “I have authorised release of Rs 225 crore in favour of Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir. and Rs 10 crore in favour of Divisional Commissioner, Jammu and SDRF (State Disaster Relief Fund) for rescue and relief.”
The official statement, quoting Mr. Sayeed, later said, “Central government has granted Rs 200 crore as immediate relief fund for floods.” Out of this, Rs. 25 crore has been released in favour of Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, and Rs. 10 crore in favour of Divisional Commissioner, Jammu.
Mr. Sayeed also said that an NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) team has arrived in the State and it will assist the divisional administration in rescue and relief measures.
The Chief Minister, who has been supervising the efforts of the administration during the whole night, said he has just come back to Jammu from the Valley after a detailed on-the-spot-assessment of the situation particularly preparedness in terms of response to the situation.
“While the water levels are above the danger mark, last three hours have indicated that there is certain receding in these levels. Our administration is doing a remarkable job and I want to assure the House that there is no need to panic, understandably as it might be,” he added.
>Jhelum river crosses danger mark in Srinagar
Heavy rains forced authorities to issue an alert asking people to move to safer places.
>Modi sends high-level officials to assess situation
Prime Minister deputes Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi to visit the State today.
>Editorial: Lessons from a disaster
The Hindu's Editorial on the floods that ravaged Jammu and Kashmir last year.
