Financial package for Chrar fire victims within 2 days

Long term Fire Management Policy soon

Chief Minister Mr. Omar Abdullah today said a cumulative package will be presented by Planning and Development Department within two days for victims of fire incident that took place on July 7 at Chrare-e-Sharief. He also disclosed that a long-term Fire Management Policy for preventing such incidents would also be formulated shortly. The Chief Minister said this while taking a high-level meeting to assess the damage caused by the devastating fire incident that engulfed a residential colony at Chrar-e-Sharief on Tuesday. Minister for Finance, Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Mr. Abdul Rahim Rather, Financial Commissioner, Planning and Development, Mr. S. L. Bhat, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Mr. Khurshid Ahmad Ganai, Commissioner/Secretary, Finance, Mr. Sudhanshu Pandey, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Mr. Masaud Samoon, Deputy Commissioner, Budgam, Mr. Mohammad Rafi, DG Fire Service besides other senior officers attended the meeting. Asking the authorities to take steps to relocate the fire victims, the Chief Minister said adequate finances under Chief Minister’s Relief Fund and Constituency Development Fund would be pooled in to make an effective relief package for rehabilitating the victims. The Chief Minister also said that in order to avoid such incidents in future, a comprehensive Fire Management Policy that combines elements of fire prevention, fire suppression and fire use would be formulated shortly in the State. “The fire management policy will urge a multi-disciplinary approach to fire control and will have applications both for rural and urban situations,” the Chief Minister said. Mr. Rather, who also spoke on the occasion, said steps would be taken for proper rehabilitation of fire victims and added that on-spot instructions to District Administration, Budgam, were given on July 08 to assess the property losses and furnish a detailed report to the government within two days so that adequate relief measures are taken in the right earnest. The Finance Minister said urgent interim relief to the affected families in shape of ration, tents, blankets and utensils has been provided, enabling them to carry on their normal activities.