Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 30: Legislators across party lines in the Legislative Assembly today urged the Government to take up the matter with the Centre for a special relief package for families affected by the recent floods.
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Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather made an exception by allowing lawmakers to raise issues beyond the Zero Hour, terming it a “special case” in view of the gravity of the matters raised. “Today I am allowing members to raise certain important issues beyond the Zero Hour. It is a one-time exception and will not form a precedent for future proceedings,” the Speaker said, urging legislators to utilise the opportunity judiciously.
Earlier, the Speaker had rejected an adjournment motion moved by BJP lawmaker Pawan Kumar Gupta seeking discussion on the flood situation, citing procedural restrictions under Rule 58(12). However, given the urgency, Rather allowed members to express their concerns over the plight of flood victims.
Initiating the debate, Gupta detailed the extensive destruction caused by the floods, particularly in Udhampur district, where he said 9,778 houses had been destroyed. Calling it “a calamity of severe nature,” he said the floods had devastated homes, schools, health centres, roads, and farmlands. “People whose houses have collapsed have not been provided tents. If 100 houses were destroyed, only 20 tents were distributed,” he said, adding that thousands were still living under tarpaulin sheets.
He criticised the administration for bureaucratic delays, alleging that even after directions from the Chief Secretary and recommendations from union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh, tents were not provided to affected families. He said the total damage assessment was Rs. 324 crore, but only Rs. 49 crore was admissible under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). “The Government should have recommended the case to the Centre for National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) assistance, but no such proposal was made,” Gupta said.
Citing examples from other States, he added, “In Karnataka and Kerala, compensation ranged from Rs. 6 to Rs. 8 lakh per household, while in Jammu and Kashmir, victims receive only Rs.1-1.3 lakh. The Government must seek a special relief package, as was done in Uttarakhand in 2011 and Jammu and Kashmir in 2014.”
MLA Surankote, Choudhary Mohammad Akram, while strongly supporting the call for a special Central package, raised a critical concern about the rehabilitation process. He alleged that Patwaris rarely visit affected areas, leaving the verification of damage to Lambardars, who “favour their own people.” Akram appealed that “all lawmakers, cutting across party lines, should collectively write to the Prime Minister seeking a comprehensive relief package for the affected families.”
As several members pressed for the Government to take up the issue with the Centre, BJP MLA Balwant Singh Mankotia said that “there is a way to seek relief.” To this, NC’s Nazir Gurezi retorted sharply, “What way? Should we touch his feet?”
MLA Samba Surjeet Singh Slathia echoed the call for a special package and stressed timely financial assistance to help families rebuild. MLA Billawar Satish Sharma proposed reviewing policies to ensure substitute land for residents whose holdings were washed away.
MLA Tral Rafiq Ahmad Naik sought permanent restoration of damaged infrastructure and upgradation of schools, while MLA Jasrota Rajeev Jasrotia demanded a comprehensive compensation plan for affected families.
MLA Kulgam Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami called for adequate compensation for farmers, and MLA Thannamandi Muzaffar Iqbal Khan urged for a transparent and time-bound relief process.
Raising an often-overlooked concern, MLA Kokernag Zafar Ali Khatana highlighted the plight of Bakarwals, saying their livestock losses had gone unnoticed in government assessments. “No one is talking about the nomadic herders who lost their animals, which are their only livelihood,” Khatana said, demanding targeted compensation for the community.
MLA Beerwah Dr. Shafi Ahmad Wani, representing the ruling National Conference, said the Omar Abdullah government was committed to fulfilling promises made to the people and was working to devise a proper disaster management plan to ensure better preparedness in future calamities.
NC MLA Abdul Majid Larmi urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Jammu and Kashmir and announce a special relief package. “I urge BJP members to take all 28 MLAs to New Delhi and meet the Prime Minister to seek compensation for our people,” he said.
Speaker Rather concluded the discussion by assuring that all concerns raised would be conveyed to the government, reiterating that the entire House shared the pain of the flood victims.
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