JAMMU: Underlining the need to have a "comprehensive action plan" for disaster management, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad today said the floods in Jammu and Kashmir, vulnerable to natural calamities, have reinforced the need to give due priority to the subject.
"There is the need to have a comprehensive action plan for disaster management. Jammu & Kashmir's vulnerability to various natural disasters like floods, earthquakes, snowfall is well known and the current natural calamity has only reinforced the need of giving due priority to the subject," Azad said.
He said spreading awareness about the threat posed by natural disasters like floods, landslides etc will also help to mitigate their impact.
The Congress leader today toured Gool, Gulabgarh and Banihal constituencies of Chenab Valley to take stock of the situation and assess damages caused by the recent heavy rains, floods and landslides.
Accompanied by MOS (Revenue) Aijaz Ahmad Khan and MOS (Technical Education, Power & Information) Vikar Rasool, Azad visited Khanikote, Sungri, Shajroo, Thuru, Dheeda, Bhimdessa and Buzla in Gool, Gulabgarh and Banihal constituencies. During his visit, he interacted with people.
Expressing solidarity with the people, Azad said he was anguished to see the unprecedented destruction caused to public infrastructure like roads, bridges, power distribution network and water supply systems and private assets like houses, crops, agricultural lands, livestock etc.
Azad recalled a conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh and hoped that in keeping with the assurance given by the Central government, a special financial package for reconstruction and rehabilitation will be announced in the interest of the state.
Demanding that the situation be declared a national calamity, Azad said, "The enormity of the challenge warrants a liberal financial package, irrespective of partisan considerations, to restore the broken down infrastructure and rehabilitate the victims."