Jammu and Kashmir Governor urges Centre for release of funds for flood victims

JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra today urged the Centre for immediate release of funds under the NDRF for relief and rehabilitation of victims of last year's devastating floods in the state.

"In the backdrop of severe financial crisis being faced by the state, the Governor has requested Home Minister Rajnath Singh for urgent clearance of the state government's request for the release of funds under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF)," a Raj Bhawan spokesman said here.

The Governor has also sought the Home Minister's support for the clearance of proposals under a special financial package of Rs 44,000 crore to enable rehabilitation of the flood victims and for restoration of the damaged public infrastructure in accordance with the provisions of the NDRF guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The spokesperson said the state government in October, 2014 had submitted a proposal to the Union Home Ministry for financial assistance under NDRF of Rs 44,000 crore, which included Rs 2926.11 crore for providing relief to the affected families and temporary restoration of damaged infrastructure.

Consequently, an inter-ministerial team had visited the state and its recommendations were recently considered in a meeting of a sub-committee of the national executive committee which was chaired by the Union Home Secretary, he said.

"The state revenue and relief secretary had attended this meeting and additional documentation sought by the committee has also since been made available to the Ministry of Home Affairs in support of the state's claims," he said.

The spokesperson said that the early sanction of the state government's claim is critical for clearing liabilities which have accumulated on account of temporary restoration of the public infrastructure.

The Governor will be visiting Delhi later this week for a meeting with the Home Minister to discuss the issue.