Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah recently visited the land subsidence-hit Kalaban border area in Poonch district, where he assessed the damage caused by the floods and landslides. The region has been severely affected, with over 1,000 people displaced and more than 95 houses, a graveyard, and a mosque damaged.
Flood Relief Efforts
Abdullah expressed his hope that the Centre will extend a relief package to Jammu and Kashmir, similar to those provided to Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. He stated that the administration has been asked to prepare a rehabilitation plan, which includes granting five marlas of land to affected families under the existing policy.
The Chief Minister also mentioned that a team from the central government has visited the affected areas, and the state government will present its demands to them. He assured that the government will use its financial resources to ensure relief reaches the people.
Rehabilitation Plans
Abdullah said that the government cannot resettle people in areas where the land has sunk or is sinking, and therefore, they will need to be relocated to new, safer areas. He added that the government already has a scheme to provide landless people with five marlas of government land, and a similar proposal will be prepared for the affected families.
The Chief Minister emphasized the importance of outreach efforts, stating that it is the government’s duty to help people in difficult times. He noted that the rains have caused unprecedented damage in Jammu and Kashmir, with hardly any district remaining unaffected by floods, landslides, or heavy rains.
