Srinagar: CPI(M) leader and Kulgam MLA M Y Tarigami on Friday urged the Centre to provide adequate funds to the Jammu and Kashmir government for the relief and rehabilitation of flood-affected people in the Union Territory.
Addressing a press conference, Tarigami, who also chairs the Environment Committee of the J&K Legislative Assembly, said the recent floods have caused massive loss of lives and property across the region.
“We urge the Government of India to extend support by releasing sufficient funds for relief and rehabilitation of all those who have suffered huge losses,” he said, expressing solidarity with victims in J&K, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Punjab.
Calling the situation “an immense human tragedy,” Tarigami said the 2014 floods were a warning, but lessons were not learned. He criticised the poor record of conducting Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) for major projects in fragile regions, stressing that violations and compromises have worsened vulnerabilities.
He also slammed the Centre for failing to set up a dedicated Climate Disaster Relief Fund, which he said is urgently needed to provide non-repayable aid to states during calamities.
Highlighting environmental concerns, Tarigami pointed out that the Jhelum’s carrying capacity has reduced from 63,000 to nearly half due to heavy silting. He called for large-scale, eco-friendly dredging of the river, its tributaries and basins, and demanded an immediate third-party safety audit of all public infrastructure, including dams and bridges.
He sought strict action against land mafia and encroachers, besides a thorough probe into dredging works allotted for Wullar Lake, Hokarsar and the Jhelum. “The progress of these projects must be made public. The Anti-Corruption Bureau has already registered an FIR, and the matter needs a transparent investigation,” he said, also urging disclosure of wetlands lost since 2015.
