Expert panel to oversee Kashmir flood relief to be set under PMO: Modi

Srinagar: An expert committee under the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) will be set up to oversee the massive task of rehabilitation and reconstruction in the aftermath of devastating floods that hit Jammu and Kashmir last month. [caption id=“attachment_1771985” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] A panel would be set up under PMO to oversee Jammu and Kashmir flood relief efforts. PTI[/caption] This was conveyed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) when a delegation of the opposition party, led by its General Secretary Mohammad Dillawar Mir, called on him here on Thursday. “The Prime Minister assured us that an expert committee would be constituted to oversee the massive task of rehabilitation and reconstruction of the state. “He also promised tangible action on other points raised by the delegation including special financial package for the affected businesses and horticulture sector,” a PDP spokesman said in Srinagar. The delegation urged the Prime Minister to initiate immediate tangible measures to set into motion a comprehensive process of rehabilitation and reconstruction of the flood-affected people in the state. The PDP leaders told the Prime Minister that the expert committee comprising town planners, structural engineers, civil engineers, hydrologists, geologists, flood control experts and economists should be entrusted with the task of formulating and implementing a comprehensive rehabilitation and reconstruction programme in a time-bound manner. “The expert committee should work under direct supervision of the Prime Minister to ensure effective implementation and delivery of the reconstruction plan in the state as was done in the aftermath of the 2001 earthquake that caused massive destruction in Bhuj area of Gujarat,” the spokesman said. He said the massive challenge of rehabilitation and reconstruction should be accomplished in a cohesive manner to rebuild safe, sustainable and planned infrastructure in the state. “The delegation also reiterated the demand for including Srinagar in Rs 7000 crore Smart Cities project announced in the Union Budget,” he said. The spokesman said the party pressed for a speedy follow-up action by the Centre on the state government’s Rs 44,000 crore relief and rehabilitation package proposal. PTI