Seeks urgent clearance of flood-hit localities
Diplomat Correspondent
JAMMU,DD, National Conference Additional General Secretary and Former Minister, Ajay Kumar Sadhotra today visited the flood-affected Gujjar Nagar, Mehar Basti and Gusain Basti localities (lower Gujjar Nagar) of Municipal Corporation Ward
No. 6 Jammu to take an on-the-spot assessment of the widespread damages caused by torrential rains.
During his visit, Sadhotra expressed serious concern over the plight of residents,
whose household goods and belongings have been extensively damaged due to nearly five feet of accumulated mud and water.
He said that the magnitude of water logging
was such that immediate and large-scale intervention was needed by the administration to provide relief to the distressed families.
Sadhotra pointed out that the deployment of merely 30 workers by the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) was grossly inadequate to clear the damaged houses and clogged areas.
“Given the scale of devastation, the manpower and machinery must be augmented on a war footing to restore normalcy at the earliest,” he added.
The Former Minister spoke to the Deputy Commissioner Jammu and also took up the matter with the Chief Engineer, Power Development Department and the Chief Engineer, Jal Shakti, urging immediate restoration of electricity and drinking water supply in the flood-hit localities.
He also impressed upon the Deputy Commissioner to explore the possibility of providing urgent assistance to the affected families whose beddings, clothes, and household goods have been completely destroyed in the floods.
Sadhotra said that stagnant water, filth, and mud in the affected areas posed a grave threat of water-borne and vector-borne diseases, which, if unchecked, could engulf entire Jammu.
He spoke to Director Health Services Jammu and urged him to assess the situation, depute sanitation teams, and launch fumigation and cleanliness
drives in the affected localities.
The National Conference Additional General Secretary also appreciated the role of a
local Committee of Gujjar Nagar that had come forward to help the sufferers in their moment of distress.
He, however, underlined that while voluntary organizations are doing commendable work, the government must step in a big way with comprehensive relief and rehabilitation measures to ease the hardships of flood victims.
Sadhotra reiterated that the National Conference stands in solidarity with the affected families and will continue to raise their concerns at all appropriate levels.
He said that National Conference President Dr. Farooq Abdullah has been closely monitoring the situation, while Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has already visited several flood-hit areas in entire Jammu region to personally assess the sufferings of people, “This has instilled a sense of confidence among the affected families that the
administration will expedite relief and restoration works”, he added.
Others who accompanied Sadhotra are Mohd Ayoub Malik Provincial Secretary, Raghubir Singh District President Jammu, Naresh Bittu District President Jammu, Sahil Kerni District President YNC Urban, Rakesh Sharma District President
Rural and Master Aslam, Rajesh Bakshi, Jatinder Singh Lucky, Gourav Kapoor, Sewak Singh Former SP, Shabir Samyal, Gurmeet Singh Jimmi, Karan Singh, Shafaqat, Asif Malik, Veer Ji Salathia, Natish Goswami, Sandeep Singh Manhas, Asanand.
