Wajahat Habibullah Calls for Accountability in Flood Relief Distribution
Srinagar, Oct 1, KNT: Former Chairperson of the Minorities Commission Wajahat Habibullah on Wednesday called for greater accountability in the distribution of flood relief in Jammu and Kashmir, urging the State Government to constitute a dedicated team to oversee rehabilitation efforts in the Valley.
Habibullah, in a chat with the news agency Kashmir News Trust, said that before the annual Darbar Move of government offices to Jammu, a special team should be established in Srinagar to focus exclusively on relief and rehabilitation operations. He maintained that agencies and groups involved in the distribution of assistance must be held accountable to ensure transparency and equitable delivery of aid.
He said Indian civil society groups had already dispatched several truckloads of relief material to the Kashmir Valley, including medicines, food supplies, blankets, tents, clothing, and drinking water. He expressed hope that the State Government would ensure proper distribution of these supplies among flood-affected inhabitants.
Habibullah further disclosed that heavy-duty water pumps had been secured from the Odisha government to support dewatering operations in inundated areas of Srinagar. He said a number of eminent personalities who had previously served in Jammu and Kashmir had held detailed deliberations in New Delhi to explore measures for easing the hardships faced by the affected population.
According to him, the Union Government, particularly the Ministry of Home Affairs, had assured full support for the rehabilitation of displaced families and reconstruction efforts across the flood-ravaged region. He stated that the unprecedented deluge had paralysed the State machinery, limiting the government’s immediate response capacity.
He reiterated the need for setting up a mini-Secretariat in Srinagar and forming an accountable, empowered team to supervise relief and rehabilitation activities on the ground. [KNT]
