Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah visited the land subsidence-hit Kalaban border area in Poonch district, where over 1,000 people have been affected and 95 houses damaged. Abdullah expressed hope that the Centre will extend a relief package to the Union Territory, similar to those given to Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.
Rehabilitation Efforts
The administration has been asked to prepare a rehabilitation plan, including the grant of five marlas of land under the existing policy, for the approval of the Cabinet. Abdullah said the government will use its financial resources to ensure relief reaches the people, with a focus on resettling those affected in safe locations.
Damage Assessment
Abdullah assessed the damage caused by land subsidence in Kalaban village, near the Line of Control (LoC). The village has become unsafe, with residents relocated to safe shelters. The government has constituted a team to visit affected areas and present demands to the Centre for a relief package.
Relief Measures
The government has a scheme to provide landless people with five marlas of government land. Following this pattern, the administration will prepare a proposal for the Cabinet’s approval. Abdullah emphasized the importance of helping people in this difficult time, with unprecedented damage caused by floods, landslides, and heavy rains in Jammu and Kashmir.
Outreach Efforts
Abdullah said it is the government’s duty to help people as much as possible, with a focus on providing relief and rehabilitation to affected regions. The government will use its financial resources to ensure relief reaches the people, with hardly any district in Jammu and Kashmir unaffected by the floods and landslides.