Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said he would approach Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking a special Central relief package for flood-affected Poonch and Rajouri districts, stating that the Union Territory does not have the financial capacity to bear the entire cost of restoration.
After conducting an extensive tour of the affected areas and reviewing the damage caused by recent floods, flash floods and cloudbursts, Abdullah said the administration had moved into the rehabilitation and reconstruction phase.
“While there are some things we can manage on our own, the reality is that Jammu and Kashmir does not have the financial capacity to bear the entire cost of restoration,” Abdullah told reporters after chairing a review meeting on flood relief and rehabilitation in Rajouri.
He recalled that after last year’s floods, the Centre had approved a package of nearly ₹1,400 crore for Jammu and Kashmir. The Chief Minister said a detailed relief proposal would be prepared this time as well and submitted to the Centre for assistance.
Abdullah said floods, flash floods and cloudbursts are automatically recognised as natural disasters and do not require any separate declaration before seeking Central assistance.
Reviewing the situation in Rajouri, he said 19 flash flood incidents had claimed four lives, but timely action by district authorities helped prevent further casualties. He expressed condolences to the families who lost their loved ones and said restoration of damaged infrastructure and public services remained the priority.
The Chief Minister informed that electricity supply had been restored almost completely, while drinking water availability continued to be a major concern due to damage to several Jal Shakti Department schemes. He said measures including deployment of water tankers and installation of hand pumps would be taken based on suggestions from local legislators.
He assured compensation for damaged houses and said families whose land had been washed away would be provided alternative plots. Farmers who suffered losses to crops and agricultural land would receive free ration support for six months to one year.
Abdullah also announced long-term flood mitigation measures, including construction of a protection bund at Bela colony to prevent future flooding in residential areas.
He further announced the construction of a new mini secretariat in Rajouri after the existing Deputy Commissioner’s office building was declared structurally unsafe. The project is expected to cost around ₹50-60 crore and is likely to be completed within two to three years.
Addressing concerns over compensation under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), Abdullah said the existing assistance for structural damage had become inadequate due to inflation and would be enhanced.
On vehicles damaged in floods, he said police authorities had been directed to expedite registration of FIRs to help genuine victims claim insurance benefits.
The Chief Minister added that MLA Iftikhar Ahmad had raised issues related to Rajouri town, including AMRUT Phase-II implementation, an alternative site for Kala bus stand, and power and water supply concerns, which would be examined by the administration.
Abdullah has been visiting flood-hit areas of Poonch and Rajouri for the past three days, meeting affected families and reviewing relief operations on the ground.
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