Centre stands with J&K flood victims: Union Agriculture Minister

Jammu, Sep 19: Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, on Friday said that the Centre stands with the flood victims of Jammu and Kashmir and urged the J&K government to tap the Rs 2499 crore disaster fund for helping the flood-affected people.

Visiting the flood-affected border village of Badyal Brahmana in R S Pura here, the minister said, “The central government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi stands by the people of J&K in this time of crisis.”

He said that the Jammu and Kashmir government had approximately Rs 2499 crore available for disaster management, which would be utilized for the recent floods. Chouhan said that if more funds were required, the Centre would extend further assistance.

Upon his arrival, he first visited the fields to assess the damage to standing crops.

Later, the minister addressed a large gathering of flood victims, including farmers.

He pledged that the Centre would provide all possible assistance to the affected population following consultations with the J&K government, which would submit reports with respect to the assessment of damages suffered during the floods.

Chouhan said teams from the Ministries of Home Affairs, Jal Shakti, Rural Development, and Agriculture had already conducted surveys in the affected parts of J&K.

“They would also submit their reports while the assessment of damages is ongoing. Once the J&K government submits its memoranda, the Centre will leave no stone unturned in providing relief,” he said.

After his visit to Badyal Brahmana, the minister returned to Jammu city and chaired a review meeting with the J&K government.

Later, he addressed the media and announced a slew of relief measures.

Chouhan announced that one installment under PM-Kisan would be released immediately to the farmers affected by the floods in J&K.

He also announced that workers in the flood-affected areas would get an additional 50 man-days under MGNREGA, increasing their entitlement to 150 from the existing 100 man-days guaranteed under the programme in view of the natural calamity. The minister announced that farmers would receive compensation for their domestic animals that perished in flood waters. He said, as reported by the J&K administration, about 5000 houses had been damaged, which would be built again, for which he would approve assistance immediately.

Chouhan said that under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Rs 1,30,000 would be provided for the construction of each house, with a separate toilet.

Hailing Self Help Groups for their work, he said, they, too, have suffered losses, and Rs 76 crore would be released for them. The minister said that the sand accumulated in the fields due to floods must be used by the farmers whose land it was deposited on. In this case, he said the Mining Department of J&K must relax the rule in favour of the affected farmers. Chouhan said that the J&K government would take up renovation of damaged canals and embankments with the Central assistance.