JAMMU: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday called for a comprehensive relief and rehabilitation package, emphasizing that the scale of destruction caused by the recent floods in Jammu demands “crores of rupees” for rebuilding lives.
Mehbooba stressed that Jammu must be rebuilt and urged BJP MLAs, who enjoy strong public support, to push the Centre for a substantial financial package aimed at reconstructing a “new Jammu.”
“There is an urgent need for a large package. The Centre announced Rs 209 crore, which is negligible compared to the actual losses. The damages I have witnessed—to homes, livestock, vehicles, agricultural lands, and essential materials—require far more substantial support,” she told reporters.
The former chief minister suggested that the Centre should announce a package on the lines of the 2014 flood relief efforts. “This is a test for the BJP, which claims to have a ‘double-engine government,’” she remarked.
Mehbooba further called on the current administration to press the central government for a comprehensive financial package that provides full support to affected families.
“There is an immediate need for relief covering everyone—households, farmers, traders, and businesses—because the losses to property, crops, livestock, and livelihoods are immense,” she said.
She also demanded the relocation of families living along riverbanks, streams, and mountain slopes to safer zones. “People should be allotted five to ten marlas of land for rehabilitation, or robust embankments should be constructed along nallahs. Jammu must be rebuilt from the ground up,” she added.
Criticizing government policies, Mehbooba condemned the leasing of forests and rivers to outsiders in the name of mining and development, saying it is accelerating ecological degradation.
“Neither the Supreme Court nor the Green Tribunal is being heeded. Citizens themselves must step up to protect our rivers and forests for future generations,” she remarked.
On the probe into the deaths of 34 pilgrims at Vaishno Devi, Mehbooba asserted that the Shrine Board must be held accountable. “Whether due to a bridge collapse or other infrastructure failures, responsibility must be fixed, and heads should roll. Many more people may still be missing than reported,” she said.
She cautioned against celebrating relief announcements prematurely: “Do not applaud the announcement of a package. Celebrate only when the aid actually reaches the people.”
Commenting on India’s decision to inform Pakistan about the floods, Mehbooba invoked her late father, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, urging a humanitarian approach. “Floods do not distinguish between India and Pakistan. In terms of lives lost, floods have claimed more than terrorism. India should act as a big brother, and sharing flood alerts could help reduce enmity in Jammu and Kashmir,” she said.
