Ahead of Eid, flood- hit traders engage in official formalities for rehabilitation

Just ahead of Eid when they should have been busy at their shops, the flood- hit traders Tuesday were outside Deputy Commissioner’s office here seeking rehabilitation.

The traders had heartrending stories reflecting pitiable condition they have been in post- floods. “ I have shop without any stocks. All the merchandise was lost in the September flood,” Shaban Bhat of KralKhud area said.

Bhat was outside DC Srinagar office waiting to submit his documents along with FIR copy, showing the losses incurred by him.

“ I am submitting the documents as I have no option than to seek government compensation. That is my only hope. It has been ten months but government is least bothered about us,” he lamented and accused the officials of resorting to pick and choose in the distribution of relief cheques.

The September floods last year wreaked havoc in Kashmir causing an estimated Rs 1 lakh crore loss to different sectors of economy including infrastructure. As per estimates more than 60,000 traders in Kashmir province were hit by the floods.

Businessman and vice- chairman, Kashmir Economic Alliance, Jan Muhammad Koul said: “ More than 1000 traders from various parts of the Srinagar district have come to DC office to submit documents along with affidavits and FIR copies. It is not the first time that they are submitting the documents. The government’s inability to give them relief is making them to submit documents again and again.” “ It is an irony that just three or four days ahead of Eid today, when these traders should have been busy on their shops, they are being made to run for pillar to post for want of rehabilitation,” Koul rued.

He said the Chief Minister and the Finance Minister had assured that traders would be rehabilitated before Eid. “ CM Mufti Muhammad Sayeed and FM Dr. Haseeb Drabu at a meeting with business community at Nehru Guest house last month assured us that flood- affected traders would be provided compensation before Eid ul Fitr,” Koul said.

“ Now there is only one working day before Eid and yet no relief has been given to these traders,” he said.

“ It is shame that this government has now made habit of backtracking from their promises,” he said.

Talking to us, President Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Sheikh Ashiq said that government had failed to fulfil its promise of providing rehabilitation. “ We are not begging them, if they ( the government) could not provide rehabilitation then they should allow us to seek international aid,” Ashiq said.

Senior leader of Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation, Hilal Ahmad Mandoo echoed similar views and urged the government to rehabilitate the flood affected traders on priority.