RDD Orders Damage Assessment in Flood-Hit Areas

Convener News Desk

Srinagar, July 22: Secretary, Rural Development Department and Panchayati Raj (RDD&PR), Muhammad Aijaz Asad, on Wednesday directed all concerned districts to immediately assess the damage caused to rural infrastructure by recent flash floods, landslides and heavy rainfall, stating that restoration of damaged public assets will be accorded top priority under the available allocations of the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-GRAM-G).

Chairing a review meeting on the implementation of the newly launched employment guarantee programme, Asad said the department would approach the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) for additional financial assistance, enhanced person-day allocation and suitable operational relaxations to accelerate restoration works and generate additional employment in calamity-affected areas.

Referring to the provisions of the VB-GRAM-G Act, the Secretary said the legislation provides for supporting employment generation and restoration of rural assets in the aftermath of natural disasters.

He directed Assistant Commissioners Development (ACDs) to undertake a comprehensive assessment of damage to Rural Development Department assets, including rural roads, culverts, cross-drainage structures, drainage systems, crossing points and public buildings, particularly in the worst-affected districts of Poonch, Rajouri, Doda, Kishtwar, Bandipora and Budgam.

“Our immediate priority is to complete a comprehensive assessment of all damaged Rural Development Department assets so that restoration works can begin without delay. Districts should also estimate the additional person-days that can be generated through these works to support affected rural households,” Asad said.

Reviewing the progress of the scheme, the Secretary was informed that 9.01 lakh person-days had been generated across Jammu and Kashmir during the first 20 days of July under the newly launched VB-GRAM-G programme.

He directed the Directors of Rural Development in Kashmir and Jammu divisions to closely monitor employment generation, damage assessment and restoration planning. The districts were also asked to prepare quarterly financial and physical plans, expedite billing alongside execution of works, clear long-pending Geo-MGNREGA cases, dispose of pending Fund Transfer Orders (FTOs), submit Utilisation Certificates and ensure timely utilisation of available funds.

The meeting was attended by Director Rural Development Kashmir Riyaz Ahmad Wani, Director Rural Development Jammu Shehnaz Akhtar, Additional Secretary and Member Secretary VB-GRAM-G Waseem Raja, Superintending Engineers, Assistant Commissioners Development, Executive Engineers (REW) and other senior officers.