Kashmir flood: Victims get peanuts to rebuild houses; pitch hope on Modi

Srinagar: Ghulam Qadri Dar, a resident of Boat Colony in Bemina area, stood at the wreckage of his once two-storied house as Prime Minister Narendra Modi listened to political and business leaders from Kashmir inside Raj Bhawan on the banks of Dal Lake in Srinagar on Thursday afternoon.

Dar, a tall man in his early fifties, has a new problem to prepare for: the harsh winter ahead. He has to rebuild his house which collapsed to the ground as floodwater marooned most of the Bemina neighborhood. The devastating floods killed at least 285 people and left more than 95,000 houses in debris.

“It would take more than Rs 40,000 just to clear the debris, and the government gives us Rs 70,000 to rebuild the house,” Dar told Firstpost, as his wife Saiqa served tea in plastic cups inside a makeshift tent erected in the premise of their house. Until recently Dar’s house was worth Rs 55 lakh; now it is in rubble and the money provided by the state government is not even enough to clear the wreckage, leave alone reconstructing one.

“Early mornings are bitter and evenings chilly as the winter approaches. Thanks to people who sent warm clothes. We didn’t have even clothes to wear,” Saiqa, who suffered knee injuries, and is a diabetic patient, said.

“Our house in Kurso Rajbagh area was worth at least Rs 90 lakh. What will I do with Rs 70,000 provided by the state government. This much of money won’t be enough to paint a house.” Adil Hussain Khan, a resident of Kurso Rajbagh, said. To add to the troubles of people like Dar and Khan, the labour force — drawn mostly from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh — which helped the construction boom thrive in Kashmir, has left the valley. The few who stayed back are in high demand and thus, expensive.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who visited the state for the fourth time, announced an immediate relief of Rs 570 crore for rebuilding of damaged homes and Rs 175 crore for affected hospitals in the state. He said the Central government “would do everything possible to help rebuild the lives and livelihood of people suffered in last month’s floods”.

The announcement has given hope to the residents of Srinagar, and a possible hint by the prime minister that the money would be transferred directly into the account of people who have lost their houses has been appreciated.

The Omar Abdullah government in the state had submitted a proposal seeking a special rehabilitation package of Rs 44,000 crore to the state, which the prime minister said, was being considered. Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Nayeem Akhtar who along with a delegation of PDP leaders met the prime minister said they urged the latter to initiate immediate tangible measures to set into motion a comprehensive process of rehabilitation and reconstruction of the flood-affected people. The PDP delegation urged the PM, Akhtar said, for a speedy follow-up action by the Centre on state government’s Rs 44,000 crore relief and rehabilitation package for the flood-affected people.

But state government officials say Rs 1,000 crore which was announced by prime minister as special assistance for rehabilitation of the people immediately after the floods is yet to reach the state government. A local newspaper in Kashmir had reported that Central government had raised a bill of Rs 650 crore against the Jammu and Kashmir government for rescue and relief operations carried out during the devastating floods. On Thursday, the Union Home Secretary Anil Goswami told reporters in New Delhi he had checked with the ministry of defence but “No such bill has been raised. There is no truth in the reports."

Anger is mounting among the people against state government’s delay in compensation being paid to people whose houses are fully and partially damaged. “They gave us Rs 2,300 for our house which has developed cracks and is about to collapse. Do you think we would be able to live in this house in winters and knowing well it is dangerous. We appeal to the Centre to release money directly to us, which would be enough to at least make the houses livable.” Shahid Saleem, a resident of Jawahar Nagar, said.

Late on Thursday, as it started raining in Kashmir, Dar said he hoped the Prime minster would speed up the process of sending money to people in Kashmir directly into their account before the chilly winter set in.