Jehlum Post News/Srinagar/June 02, 2015/Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, Tuesday handed over relief cheques amongst small-time uninsured traders and destitute of Srinagar district, who were badly affected by devastating floods of 2014.As many as 993 small-time businessmen, including those whose annual turnover was between 5 lakh and 10 lakh, were provided cheques worth 2.27 crore, out of Chief Minister’s Flood Relief Fund, today.

Minister of State for PHE, I&FC, Sukhnandan Kumar, Minister for Public Works, Syed Altaf Bukhari, Minister of State for Power, H&UDD and I&C, Mohammad Ashraf Mir, Minister of State for Health & Social Welfare, Asiya Naqash, MLAs, Abid Ansari, Noor Mohammad and Anjum Fazili and MLC, Khursheed Alam, were present on the occasion. Addressing a large gathering of people after distributing cheques amongst victims, Mufti Sayeed said the Government will also compensate those people who lost their residential houses in last year's floods. “All those persons whose pacca and kutcha houses, which were partially and fully-damaged in the floods, will be compensated,” he said and added that he will not rest till all those affected by the deluge of 2014 are provided relief by the Government.Appreciating the district administration for fast-tracking identification of victims and distribution of cheques, the Chief Minister said the relief being provided is only a start-up incentive which will allow the victims to commence their business activity. The Chief Minister said the Government is pursuing a Comprehensive Flood Management Plan with the Central Government to initiate permanent protection measures from impending threat of floods. “Dredging of rivers and flood channels and strengthening of river embankments has been prioritized so that threats from such calamities are reduced in future,” he said. Referring to the steps taken by the Government to repair damaged infrastructure, in particular roads, schools, hospitals, filtration plants and power receiving stations, Mufti Sayeed said the Government will soon begin permanent restoration of public infrastructure facilities. The Chief Minister also referred to the recent visit of the Parliamentary Standing Committee during which they discussed various issues pertaining to flood forecasting, climate change, pollution control and relief and rehabilitation measures. All those small-time businessmen with turnover less than 5 lakh, who could not be provided cheques earlier, were handed over cheques by the Chief Minister today. The Srinagar District Administration has also provided relief cheques to 268 destitute so far. Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, B. B. Vyas, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Asgar Samoon and Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, Farooq Ahmad Lone were also present on the occasion.

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