Minister for Horticulture, Mr. Abdul Rehman Veeri on behalf of Chief Minister informed the House that during the border firing and shelling at International Border and LoC the affected inhabitants are shifted to safer locations in temporary camps to prevent any loss of lives. He said civic amenities like food, medicines, blankets, sanitary utilities and free transport etc are being provided besides ex-gratia as admissible under norms is also being paid to the affected families.
This was stated by the Minister while replying to a clubbed question by Romesh Arora, Vikramaditya Singh and Dr Shahnaz Ganai in the Legislative Council today.
Giving details of ceasefire violations during last two years and current year, the Minister said that during last two years 419 ceasefire violations happened and 203 such incidents happened during this year upto September 18, 2015.
The Minister informed that 28 deaths were caused due to border shelling during 2014-15 till date. He said 167 persons were injured, 194 houses damaged, 70 livestock died and 125 livestock injured in such incidents.
The Minister said that an ex-gratia has been paid as per the existing norms @ Rs. 1 lakh in case of death, Rs 75000 in case of permanent disability, Rs 5000 for injured persons and compensation @ 50% assessed amount of the damages to the immoveable property subject to a maximum ceiling of Rs 1 lakh in each case.
The Minister informed that ex-gratia of Rs 25.30 lakh were paid in Jammu, Rs 13.09 lakh in Samba, Rs 1.20 lakh in Kathua, Rs 25000 in Rajouri, Rs 16.95 lakh in Poonch and Rs 1 lakh in Baramulla districts to the border firing/shelling affected families.
The Minister said to meet any exigency in affected areas fully equipped ambulances with first aid material and medical staff are being deployed in border areas and equipped at the disposal of Police and other Security agencies. He said a proposal regarding construction of community type bunkers at various places along the IB/LoC has been forwarded to Union Home Ministry for consideration.
The Minister further informed that relief as free ration, boarding, lodging is immediately being provided to the migrants through the concerned district administration. He said district administration is required to take immediate action in providing relief to the affected people whenever such exigencies arise.