AKSHAY AZAD
JAMMU, Jan 22: Various government departments of state have suffered huge losses on account of damage to the infrastructure and equipments during the last fortnight due to inclement weather.
 As per the initial assessments send by various departments to the state government the damages are recorded to the tune of   Rs 20 crore. A high level meeting of officials of various departments would be held on Monday to approve funds to meet the expenses on account of damages.
 Sources told Greater Kashmir that a state level Appraisal Committee headed by the Chief Secretary Madhav Lal would review the reports on Monday. “Several departments have sent assessment of the losses suffered on account damages to the infrastructure and equipments due to snowfall. The departments have demanded assistance from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). After the meeting, funds will be approved to the departments” they said.
 Sources maintained that the committee members, including divisional commissioners of both the provinces Kashmir and Jammu, Secretaries   Planning, Finance and Revenue Departments, besides the Assistant Commissioners Revenue of each district would attend the meet to review the reports. The committee is likely to recommends for the release funds under SDRF.
 Sources informed the Power Development Department (PDD) had already submitted the assessment of damages suffered in snowfall in various areas of the state. “PDD department is the worst hit and the assessment of loses send by it  are to the tune of around Rs 12 Crore, followed by the  Public Health Engineering department. The funds are already available in SDRF and will be disbursed after tomorrow’s meeting” they said, adding that if the initial losses incurred by various departments would be added, it would cross Rs 20 Crore mark.
 Divisional Commissioner Pawan Kotwal while confirming   the scheduled meeting said, “Although we have not got the detailed report of all the damages caused to the departments but the initial assessments have already reached to us. According to which the PDD is worst affected and has suffered losses to the tune of around Rs. 12 Crores. After discussing the losses and other issues, the funds will be approved to affected departments under SDRF” he said, adding that the losses suffered by farmers on account of damages to the crops and the road infrastructure would be assessed after the clearance of snow from affected areas. “More funds will be released after complete assessment of the losses” he added.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 22 Jan 2012 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 22 Jan 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:00:00 IST