High-level committee reviews relief work in Ladakh

A high-level empowered committee headed by Jammu and Kashmir chief secretary SS Kapur has reviewed the implementation of relief works under the prime minister's special package for flood victims in Ladakh.

Kapur, accompanied by administrative secretaries of departments like health, planning, yesterday visited Leh and Kargil, which was devastated by cloudburst and flash floods last month, an official spokesperson said in Srinagar.

The objective was to ensure timely restoration of relief works before the onset of winter and to weigh up fund requirement for restoration of public utility services, he said.

Kapur stressed the need to accelerate rehabilitation and relief works, saying these should completed by October end.

Referring to reclamation of agricultural land, he stressed the need to complete the reclamation of such land in Leh by next season.

The NREGA scheme was a good source of funding for reconstructing damaged infrastructure, he said, adding work should be done to estimate the actual need of fund.

He also emphasised on identifying missing persons through police and local enquiry so that steps could be taken for the release of ex-gratia to the affected families.

Earlier, the chief secretary and committee members visited the worst-hit flood areas of Tashi Gatsal. They also went to Solar Colony where the homeless are being rehabilitated.

The committee also visited Kargil to take stock of restoration works following the cloudburst and flash-floods.

A joint-meeting of Kargil Hill Development Council (KHDC) was convened to take appraisal of the measures put in place for restoration of basic infrastructure in the district.

Chief executive councillor Kachu Ahmad Ali Khan, executive councillors and deputy commissioner (Kargil) M Raju participated in the meeting.

Raju said 16 residential houses were completely damaged in the flash floods while 38 residential structures have been damaged partially.

Of the total 139 link roads damaged in the calamity, 96 link roads have been temporarily restored to ensure road communication in these areas.

Similarly, 62 irrigation schemes and 80 water supply schemes have been restored, he said, adding out of 990 damaged rural development schemes, 169 schemes have been rebuilt.

The chief secretary assured that will be no constraint of funds for reconstruction of vital infrastructure in the district.