Srinagar, August 16: Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti today stressed on adopting community based Disaster response and involving local institutions while framing responses to emergencies.
Chairing the 6th meeting of State Disaster Management Authority here today, the Chief Minister directed imparting necessary training among the local volunteers for which she directed involving the managements committees of local mosques, Gurduwars, temples and churches.
Minister for Revenue, Relief, Rehabilitation and Disaster Management, Abdul Rehman Veeri and Minister for Public Works, Naeem Akhtar were present in the meeting.
Mehbooba Mufti directed formulating a prevention and response plan for floods and utilizing all traditional means of watch and ward with effective community participation. She also directed strengthening and raising the height of protection bunds on the Jhelum River. The Chief Minister also directed an appraisal of medical and trauma facilities in the wake of a disaster.
She also directed procurement of high duty dewatering pumps, snow cutters, boats, life jackets, tents, DG sets etc which are used in disaster response management. She also directed a critical appraisal of food go downs and working out a supply chain in case of a massive flood or any other disaster in the State.
Mehbooba Mufti directed placing Rs one crore each at the disposal of every Deputy Commissioner as a revolving fund for Disaster management response at the District level.
The Chief Minister enquired about the pace of dredging in Jhelum and earth cutting in flood channels across the Valley. She was informed that the Jhelum dredging has been carried on a sizeable portion of the river from Srinagar to Baramulla whileas 4.70 lakh cubic metres of dry earth cutting has been achieved across various Flood channels in the Valley. Moreover, around 7 lakh trees, which were obstructing the water flow in these channels, were cut besides demolition of 908 structures.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister also launched the website of SDMA. She directed constant updating of weather forecasts on the website.
The meeting was informed that disaster management response in the State has duly been institutionalised with the adoption and execution of a Disaster Management Policy. Also the meeting was informed that an inventory of services, equipment and facilities to be utilised in case of emergencies is being compiled at the district levels which would be completed in a month.
Regular trainings to concerned officials are being imparted at the IMPA, the Chief Minister was informed.
Also present in the meeting were Chief Secretary, B. B. Vyas; Director General of Police, Dr. S. P. Vaid; administrative secretaries of several departments; Divisional Commissioners of Kashmir and Jammu and other senior officers of civil administration and Police.(GNS)
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THREE COLUMNS
NIA raids 12 locations in Srinagar, north Kashmir
Srinagar, Aug 16: India’s National Investigation Agency Wednesday conducted fresh raid over a dozen location in Central and North Kashmir. The raids were conducted with regard to alleged funding case as separatists are being accused of getting funds from different quarters to fuel trouble in Valley, a charge vehemently refuted by Joint Resistance Leadership comprising of Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik.
Sources said that the raids were conducted at Srinagar, Baramulla and Handwara on Wednesday.
Sources informed news agency CNS that NIA team raided the house of senior separatist leader Advocate Muhammad Shafi Reshi who is a close aide of Syed Ali Geelani. The house is located at Barzulla Srinagar. Reshi was not available for comments, however, an activist of his part while confirming the raid said that 6 hours long raid was conducted at 7 in the morning.
Sources added that the houses of relatives of prominent businessman Zahoor Ahmed Watali were also raided.
Watali’s residence in Gurugram, Delhi and Srinagar were raided on 4 June as part of the ongoing investigation. The NIA also searched Watali’s driver Mohammed Akbar’s house.
The NIA had arrested seven persons -Altaf Ahmed Shah, Nayeem Khan, Peer Saifullah, Raja Mehrajuddin Kalwal, Aftab Hilali Shah alias Shahid-ul-Islam and Ayaz Akbar Khandey and Farooq Ahmad Dar alias Bitta Karate on 24 July last month.
They were arrested on the charges of criminal conspiracy and waging war against India.
Reports said that a team of NIA also raided the house of a private employee Ghulam Muhammad Bhat at Tarhama Tangmarg area of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district. Bhat according to sources is the employee of a plywood factory owner Pirzada Ghulam Nabi. The house of Pirzada Ghulam Nabi was also raided. (CNS)
