New Delhi: Stating that the conditions in other districts of the flood affected Jammu and Kashmir is “worse”, the Supreme Court on Monday called upon the Centre and the state government not to restrict their focus to Srinagar alone in the rescue and relief operations.
The apex court noted that the authorities must ensure that necessary supplies reach the last of the flood-hit victims with emphasis on their rehabilitation.
A bench headed by Chief Justice R.M. Lodha reiterated that it was not treating the matter as adversarial litigation but said the type of focus Centre has given to Srin-agar did not appear to have
reached other flood-affected districts like Kulgam, Anantnag, Shopian, Pulwama, Ganderbal, Baramulla and Budgam.
“The entire focus is on Srinagar. No focus is there on other districts. They are as bad as Srinagar and condition in some other districts is worse. I don’t think effort (in other districts) is like what has been done in Srinagar,” the CJI said after perusing the note placed by Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi on the rescue and relief operations carried out at the behest of the Centre.
However, the bench, also comprising Justices Kurian Joseph and R.F. Nariman, said the Centre has done a “wonderful job”. The apex court added that “so many things” were undertaken without any direction fr-om the court. “The focus should be on the phase-wise rehabilitation,” the bench observed.
Meanwhile, the railways has partially resu-med train services between Srinagar and Baramulla after remaining disrupted for 11 days amidst massive flood in Jammu and Kashmir. The services were partially resumed after restoration of tracks which were damaged by the flood.
The railways maintained that the efforts are being made to ensure restoration of rail traffic in the remaining parts of the Valley as well.
