With Governor Rule coming to an end recently, the authorities have stopped to disburse the rehabilitation amounts in favour of flood victims of September 2014.
Hundreds of cases of flood victims are still pending in the district administration offices.
Not satisfied with the assurances and re-assurances from the authorities, flood victims from various areas have also recently staged protest demonstrations.
On March 2, when state was under governor’s rule, following the approval of the State Administrative Council the Revenue Department has issued orders to the payment of financial assistance, under Prime Minister’s Development Plan 2015, to the owners of houses damaged due to floods of September 2014.
The Governor NN Vohra had also directed authorities to disburse the amount within week’s time.
“During Governor Rule, the authorities left no stone unturned to ensure that they disburse amount among flood victims. The files pending in government offices were cleared within no time. As the elected government was administered oath of office, the officials forgot to clear the left out cases,” said a group of flood victims at Basant Bagh.
“The Governor’s rule, in this context was far better than the present regime. At least, there was some force which made authorities to perform duty and rehabilitate flood victims without any further delay,” they said, adding, “Now there is neither any progress in left out cases nor any accountability of officials.”
They alleged that authorities continue to play hide and seek with the flood victims.
Other areas where flood victims are yet to receive their rehabilitation packages include Shivpora, Sonwar, Dalgate, Basant Bagh, Humhama, Narkara in Budgam and Awantipora, Kakapora in Pulwama.
The flood affected shopkeepers of Allochibagh said that they were given cheques worth of Rs 25000 instead of Rs 40000.
“It has been more than two years now and I am yet to get rehabilitation package from the DC office Srinagar. I really don’t know if the authorities are serious to clear the pending file on their table,” said Ansar Mir of Sonwar.
“The amount sanctioned for a flood hit shopkeeper was Rs 40000. The unique ID for the flood case rehabilitation for my shop is 7797-SO-16569. I am surprised to see the amount on cheque was only Rs 25000,” said Abdur Rahim Bhat.
He questioned how can authorities reduce the amount “when actually the sanctioned amount is Rs 40000.”
Soon after receding of flood waters, the then Omar Abdullah led government had released Rs 75,000 each in favour of those whose houses were completely damaged while owners of severely and partially damaged houses received Rs 12500 and Rs 3800 respectively. The process was also expedited by the civil administrations as the then Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had ‘warned’ deputy commissioners to release payments to flood victims without any delay or pack their bags.
Later, the then Mufti-led government announced release of second installment for the rehabilitation of flood victims. This amount was to be disbursed from Prime Minister’s National relief Fund (PMNRF). However, large number of flood victims is yet to receive their due amount from PMNRF till date.
Despite repeated attempts, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar didn’t respond to phone calls.
Flood victims rue end of Governor Rule
