Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference President and Member of Parliament from Srinagar Dr Farooq Abdullah on Wednesday asked the government to rise up to the exigencies thrown up by intense spell of rains across Kashmir.
Expressing concern over the weather fury that caused havoc across Kashmir that claimed property, livestock, crops and left the normal life paralysed, Dr Farooq said the unusual weather patterns is turning into a cause of worry for everyone. The key sectors like agriculture, horticulture and power generation have witnessed major pullbacks in wake of increased weather extremity, he added saying alarm bells that have just started sounding regarding the changing weather patterns need to be taken seriously as it concerns us all.
“Government agencies have to think collectively and without wasting any time to contemplate the remedial measures to avert major losses due to such weather extremities. We have to act now, tomorrow may be too late. District and divisional administration ought to have premeditated action plans to deal with such weather vulnerability,” he observed.
Asking the government to rise up to the challenges thrown up by the incessant rains, the party president said that the unprecedented downpour during last five days has breached bunds across Kashmir causing massive inundation in low-lying areas. “The ground reports with regard to the havoc wreaked by weather fury are depressing. Life across Kashmir has come to a standstill. Surface connectivity stands badly hit. Harvest-ready vegetable crops, livestock, houses, roads, culverts, irrigation pump stations, and automobiles have been swept away by the landslides and flash floods in the upper reaches. The situation across South, Central and North Kashmir is equally depressing. Overflowing drains, and bund breaches have submerged roads, lanes, by lanes,” he added.
Keeping in view the profound impact of the heavy downpour, the government should lose no time in reaching out to the affected across Kashmir. Necessary directions should be given to both district and divisional administration to mitigate the sufferings of people in wake of the heavy downpour. The concerned departments of irrigation and flood control, revenue, disaster management, PWD, PDD, and local municipalities should be directed to work in a synchronised manner to ensure maximum relief to people.
“Dewatering, restoring normal commute and basic public amenities and utility services should be high on the agenda of the government. I hope the government doesn’t fail people in their hour of need,” he said. He also called for compensating losses of flood-affected on 2019 norms for flood relief and through other disaster management funds.
