PDP-BJP alliance formed to empower people of J-K: Sayeed

Jammu, Mar 20: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Sayeed today said the purpose of the alliance between PDP and BJP in the state is to empower the people and to take confidence building measures within and across the Line of Control (LoC) to ensure lasting peace.

"We want to create an enabling environment for all-round economic development of the state," he said.

Spelling out the reason for forging an alliance with the BJP in the state to give a representative government to the people after holding wide consultations, Sayeed reminded the Leader of the Opposition, Omar Abdullah, of his days as a minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA government.

Stating that his government has accorded top priority to reconstruct the flood-ravaged infrastructure and rehabilitate those people who lost everything to the September flood fury, Sayeed said all affected people, especially small-time businessmen who had no security of insurance, shall be provided relief.

"I have constituted a committee to be headed by the finance minister which will expedite rehabilitation and disbursement of relief to the flood victims," he said.

The CM said so far the Union government has released Rs 1,000 crore under "Prime Minister's Package for Floods" for restoration of damage to public assets over and above around Rs 1,100 crore already available with the state government under NDRF for emergency relief and temporary restoration.

An amount of Rs 820 crore, he said, stands spent under SDRF. "The work on commencement of permanent restoration has already begun.

We are separately pursuing the release of a special package that would cater to the requirements of the affected people," he said.

PTI