Jammu, Mar 15: In view of the incessant `avalanche threat’, Jammu and Kashmir government is relocating nearly 400 families in the border tehsil of Gurez to safer places.
Minister of Revenue Raman Bhalla told the legislative assembly Monday that the District Development Commissioner, Bandipora has submitted a proposal of Rs 9. 58 crores to the Planning Department on January 8, 2010 for the rehabilitation of 400 families residing in at least 13 villages in Gurez tehsil following continuous snow avalanche threat. The minister was responding to a question by Nazir Gurezi, MLA Gurez.
  “The life and property of the residents of 13 villages Refugi, Chakibiyant, Sudi-Kilshay, Bolonirilvi, Jarijoji, Jurnail-Dutt, Mazgund, Vazrithal, Neru Nallah, Nayal, Koragbal, Refugi Daki and Jawadara were at risk due to the snow avalanches during winters,” the minister said adding that they were being shifted to safer places.
 On the directions of the chief minister Omar Abdullah, he said; “The District Development Commissioner (Bandipora) was asked to prepare a plan in this regard”. As per the proposal submitted by the DDC to the Planning Department, the residents living in avalanche-prone areas at Tragbal in Gurez are being shifted to safer places’
 He said that the Planning Department has forwarded the proposal to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs for funding under Border Area Development Programme.
 “This includes construction of houses for 400 families at a cost of Rs 8 crores under BADP. The balance cost required for providing other amenities like water supply, roads has been proposed to be met out of the district plan”, he said. He said the decision on the proposal was still awaited.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 15 Mar 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 15 Mar 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:00:00 IST