Survey, relief distribution uphill task in worst-hit Srinagar

While Srinagar remained worst hit by September 2014 floods and losses suffered by the summer capital are even more than aggregate damage in other districts, south City has remained the biggest challenge for the administration. This is at least what the official statistics reveal.
According to official figures, of the 40 odd deaths reported from here, 28 were from south. Of over 73,000 structures devastated in Srinagar, more than 20,000 residential houses were affected in this zone “making the rehabilitation a challenge for the authorities who had work manifold than their counterparts in other districts.” Of these devastated structures, 2840 houses were completely damaged while more than 7500 were severely damaged.
While complaints of delay in survey and relief continue to pour in, officials said that most of the work has been completed. “We are working tirelessly to finish it as soon as possible.”  “In most of the cases, delay was because the victims want re-assessment of losses and we are getting hundreds of reassessment applications daily. Moreover there are cases of dispute between the families,” said an official at the office of Tehsildar south, facing the brunt of the crisis.
District Development Commissioner Farooq Ahmad Shah, on the other hand, is understood to have directed his teams to complete the process as soon as possible. Talking to Greater Kashmir he admitted that administration faced hindrances in survey and relief work for reasons more than one. “Many of the flood affected families have migrated and it’s difficult to trace them out… Moreover there are related issues like multiple families sharing a single house.”
Tehsildar South Dr Haroon Rashid said: “If anybody has any grievance he/she can directly approach us or the concerned Patwaris.” He said “Most of the people who approached me want to change the status of their assessment. We have directed our field staff to re-verify and re-assess the cases where the victims have any grievance.”
Tehsildar South requested such flood sufferers whose houses were fully damaged, but have not provided their sixteen digit account numbers, to  provide the same for onward submission to higher authorities. “They can even contact the concerned Patwari.”
Sources said relief and survey work in south City got a shot in the arm with Dr Haroon’s posting in the area in November, 2014. “Since then scores of cases have been solved as he patiently listens to grievances and redresses them,” said an official.

Previous post NC smells rat behind settlement of non-Kashmiris in JK
Next post Dearth of civil service officers hits admin big time