Jammu, Apr 30 Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo Tuesday convened a high-level meeting to review the measures initiated for relief and rehabilitation in the area affected by the recent land subsidence in Ramban district.
The chief secretary enquired from the divisional and district administrations about the relief and restoration measures being carried out by them for the affected population. He asked about the status of transit accommodations provided to the families relocated in the Pernote area of the Ramban district.
Dulloo asked for making adequate arrangements for bedding, food, drinking water, electricity, medical aid, sanitation, and other amenities at the transit accommodations. He called for making joint efforts to bring immediate relief to the affected people as per the norms of the government. The chief secretary also sought inputs from the divisional and district administrations about the status of services operational in the affected area.
He asked the officers to explore the possibility of establishing road links with the cut-off areas on a war-footing basis for ensuring smooth supplies besides catering to medical emergencies. Dulloo took stock of the damage caused to power and water infrastructure besides assessing the status of health services and ration distribution through different healthcare facilities and Fair Price shops in the area. He called upon the concerned to take requisite steps to restore the infrastructure simultaneously making alternative arrangements till its full restoration.
The meeting also held deliberations on the rehabilitation of the affected population. The Divisional Commissioner and the concerned DC were tasked to prepare a proper rehabilitation plan considering the ground situation. They were asked to take SDRF and Red Cross onboard to provide instant succour to the displaced people.
The local administration informed about the measures being taken for the affected people. It was informed that around 90 families having nearly 413 persons had been relocated by the administration to safe locations.
Besides, transit accommodations were established at three locations including Panchayat Ghar and two community halls situated in the village of Pernote. It was also revealed that the arrangements for the movement of Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) to and from the Gool sub-district had been done via Mahore, Reasi besides the establishment of a reliable link would also be done at the earliest.
Moreover, it was informed in the meeting that the administration was carrying out a study of the area through the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) and Geological Survey of India (GSI), to ascertain the causes behind the land sinking in Ramban and recommend the preventive measures thereof.
The meeting was attended by ACS Jal Shakti, Principal Secretary Home, Principal Secretary PDD, ADGP L&O, Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Commissioner Secretary FCS&CA, Secretary Revenue, Secretary Health, Deputy Commissioner Ramban, MD KPDCL, and Chief Engineer R&B Jammu (South).