Non-payment of compensation to natural calamities affected rocks J&K

Srinagar, Aug 24 (UNI) The issue of non-payment of relief to the people affected by natural calamities last year in Jammu and Kashmir today rocked the Assembly.

Cutting across the party lines, several members were on their toes when Minister in charge of revenue, in reply to a question by Mohammad Yousuf Targami, Dr Ghulam Nabi Bhat, Abdul Gani Malik and Usman Majeed said details about the natural calamities which struck various parts of the state last year are being collected.

How long the government will take to provide relief to the affected families who have lost their everything due to calamities, the members asked.

Mr Majeed wanted that question should be deferred till the government collects full information about the damage and relief paid to the affected families.

Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad intervening in the debate said the state witnessed flood, hail storm and windstorm causing extensive damage to fruit, paddy and other crops besides damaged thousands of houses.

It was not an easy job to collect all the information about the damage, he said adding for damage of crops and fruits we need on department while for human loss and damage to houses the task was given to separate agency as per norms.

He said taking into consideration the major damages, the government a committee under Chief secretary and revenue commissioner was set up to assess the losses.

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