Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 16: Senior BJP leader and convenor of the Namami Gange Campaign and Tawi Andolan, Chander Mohan Sharma, has asked Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah to immediately release the funds allocated by the Government of India (GoI) for the reconstruction and repair of infrastructure severely damaged during the devastating floods of August last year.
Addressing a press conference at the BJP Headquarters in Trikuta Nagar, here, today he expressed serious concern over the delay in the release of the funds, stating that the prolonged inaction has caused immense hardship to the local population. He emphasized that the funds were sanctioned by the Government of India months ago, but their non-release by the Union Territory administration has stalled the restoration work.
Prominent party leaders Balwinder Singh Bhatia, Megha Raina, Rajni Arora, Raman Sharma, and Pradeep Sharma were also present during the press conference.
Highlighting the urgency of the situation, Sharma pointed out that the festival of Navratri will commence on March 19, yet there is currently no accessible bank of the Tawi River for devotees to perform the traditional submersion of Sakh Mata. The primary site traditionally used for this ritual, Tawi Aarti Ghat, along with the Dhounthly area, has been rendered inaccessible due to the extensive damage caused by the floods.
He further stated that the second alternative, the Ranbir Canal, is also undergoing repairs and desilting, making it unlikely that water flow will be restored before April 1. In such circumstances, Sharma warned that the absence of a suitable site for the ritual could create chaos and inconvenience for thousands of devotees during the festival period.
Sharma also highlighted the severe damage to the approach lane situated on the embankment between Rajiv Colony and the Bikram Chowk bridge near the Ghat, which has been washed away, compounding the hardships of residents living in the surrounding areas.
He added that all Municipal Bodies and Rural Local Bodies are mandatorily required to comply with the directives of the National Green Tribunal to create temporary ponding facilities for the immersion of Sakh Mata in an environmentally responsible manner, ensuring that the main watercourse remains unpolluted.
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