Saroori raises public issues on the floor of the Assembly

Government should implement norms like Andhra Pradesh, Banglore in J&K

Landslides in Kishtwar, 115 families shifted to safer places

Jammu, March 21: - Member of Legislative (MLA) Inderwal, G. M. Saroori said that at least 115 families in Sarthal area of Kishtwar District have been shifted to safer places in last two days due to continuous triggering of landslides in Angara Panchayat of the District due to continuous rain and snow.

Many houses were also damaged and electricity in entire Kishtwar District remained snapped for sixth consecutive day today forcing people to live under darkness after two towers of 132 KV transmission line supplying electricity to Kishtwar got damaged at Pul Doda. Saroori also raised the issue in Legislative Assembly.

He said that landslides in many places like Bhallessa, Doda, Thathri has damaged over 1500 houses, while the fruit growers have also faced trouble as their plants were destroyed in the heaving rains. He said that over 100 families were evicted from their houses in Angara village of Sarthal and shifted to safer places, added that in Kuntwara area of Inderwal around 16 families have shifted to safer places.

Saroori said that administration and the government should immediately take steps for providing them any kind of help. He said that Kishtwar District have been badly affected with the shortage of essential commodities due to continuous road blockade, added that bridle path links between various villages in remote areas like Chatroo, Khara, Bunjwah, Sarthal, Thathri and other areas has also been damaged, thus causes lot of inconvenience to the people.

He said that there is need to carry out the detail survey of losses to the public property in entire Chenab valley and demanded compensation for the poor people who suffered losses due to weather furry.

On the floor of the Assembly Saroori demanded the enhancement of BAD Pocket Funds besides inclusion of all backward areas under BP Scheme. He also said that government should take necessary measures to functionalise all newly created administrative units in the state.

During the question hour, Saroori also stood up and expressed concern saying that government should implement norms like Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Banglore and other states where the health institutions have been opened within the limit of 7 kms. He also raised issue of under-staff hospitals and health centres. In his response, the health minister assured the House that government would ‘rationalize’ the system in the health department.

During his speech on Governor’ Address, he said the Address has not mentioned about Rs 44,000 crore relief and rehabilitation package submitted by the previous Government to the Union Government despite the fact that flood hit people are still suffering a lot. “Mere few thousand crores of rupees are not sufficient to provide succor to huge population affected due to devastating floods but the new dispensation has buried the special package”, he regretted.

He suggested the Government to vigorously chase the package with the Union Government. He demanded that special focus should be laid on upcoming power projects and efforts should be made on war footing to resolve the crisis that has gripped Pakal Dul project.

On Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy’s statement, Saroori condemned the controversial statement of the rightwing that Masjids were mere buildings that could be demolished and demanded punishment for Swamy.

He stood up from his seat in the Assembly and asked the Pro-tem Speaker, that the House should pass a resolution against the BJP leader and demand punishment for him. Following his statement, an FIR was lodged against Swamy but he was not arrested.

Saroori, who was supported by other members of the opposition including Congress, NC, CPI (M) and Peoples Democratic Front, responded saying that the irresponsible statements against the religious palaces of any community, Muslims, Hindus, Christians or Sikhs, were a matter of serious concern not something on which the time of the legislators would get wasted.

He urged the House to unanimously condemn Swamy’s communal utterances and said that with these statements, BJP was not only playing with the sentiments of the Muslim Ummah but the emotions of the entire humanity.