JAMMU: “The Govt. of J&K has failed to discharge its constitutional duty to constitute State Disaster Management Authority for handling the situation created by devastating floods and rains in J&K, twice, within seven months. Supreme Court of India in JKNPP writ petition had directed the State Govt. to constitute State Disaster Management Committee as early as 24th September, 2014 when the Supreme Court constituted five-member committee representing both High Court Bar Associations in Srinagar and Jammu to monitor the relief and rehabilitation work”.
Prof.Bhim Singh informed the media this morning that in spite of this direction only interim report was submitted by the committee on 09.10.2014 described as interim report. He said in this report the representatives of Govt. of India (one), Govt. of J&K (one), Senior Registrar of High Court (Convenor) and two High Court Bar Association Presidents from Srinagar and Jammu Wings of the High Court remained kept ideal for nearly seven months and not a single meeting was held because the State leaders had no time to do so.
Prof. Bhim Singh who is pleading for JKNPP petition in the Supreme Court has expressed serious concern on the apathy of the State government which has not till date constituted/reconstituted the State Disaster Management Committee in spite of the warnings on the changing weather conditions in J&K. The money rushed from New Delhi in the name of Chief Minister’s Fund has not been transferred to State Disaster Management Authority and the Authority did not find its existence anywhere.
Prof.Bhim Singh accused the State Govt. for its utter failure as the two parties alliance government has been busy in distributing portfolios and sharing loot and jobs in the Govt. Departments. He said that the government in seven months could not careless for the warning issued by Meteorological Department on its weather forecast. Kashmir is likely to face the situation it experienced in September 2014 floods and Jammu Pradesh is under threat of floods and rains and the entire state is facing threat to the existence of its entire population.
He pointed out that water outlets in the Valley were closed by illegal and undue construction by private and public sectors on the state land which was distributed/leased out/sold to the vested interest by the state at throw away prices. The illegal construction resulted in closing the water outlets which was proved during the devastating floods in September last year. The hills of Jammu region are under threat because of the deforestation of its jungles by the politicians/contractors and their agents aided and abetted by the ruling parties in the state.
The NPP Supremo said that writ petition is already pending before the Supreme Court and the JKNPP shall file additional petition seeking a strong authority under Governor’s authority so that State Disaster Management Authority turns meaningful and affective. So that strong measures could be adopted to save the people of J&K from death and destruction caused by floods and rains.