The State Disaster Response Fund Tuesday declared the snowfall in November and December across Kashmir and in parts of Jammu division as ‘State Specific Natural Disaster.’
An official spokesman said, “Snowfall between 6th and 9thNovember in Kashmir division and 12th and 14th December in parts of Jammudivision have been declared as a State Specific Natural Disaster for thepurposes of providing additional relief/assistance to the affected farmers fromSDRF, on the lines of the snowfall of November 2018.”
The decision was taken at an Executive Committee meeting ofthe SDRF chaired by Chief Secretary, B V R Subrahmanyam. FinancialCommissioner, Finance; Principal Secretary, Home; Financial Commissioner,Revenue; Secretary DMRR&R and other senior officers attended the meeting.
Chief Secretary directed Secretary DMRR&R to work outadditional requirement of funds in each district based on their projected demandand the funds available with them for meeting various disaster related expensesas per SDRF norms. Secretary DMRR&R will also work out the additionalrequirement of disaster related equipment in consultation with DCs tostrengthen the response mechanism of the district administration to wintervagaries.
The Executive Meeting also approved allocation of Rs 2 Crorefor placement at the disposal of PHE and I&FC Department for procurement of10 Vehicle Mounted Mobile DG Sets to meet emergent power supply requirements ofPHE installations for uninterrupted water supply to consumers.
The meeting was informed that new 22 Bulldozers and 16 SnowPlough Machines will arrive by January and February 2020 respectively. Besides,three sophisticated Snow Cutter Machines will arrive by March 2020. Thesemachines will augment the requirement of disaster related equipment in thedistricts.