Ajit Seth
Rejecting allegations of discrimination by Central agencies like NDRF, Army and Air Force for carrying out “selective rescue” operations in the flood-affected areas of Jammu and Kashmir, the government on Thursday said, these forces were helping whomsoever possible.
Talking to a TV channel Cabinet secretary Ajit Seth said, “It is not right to say that selected few were rescued. It was the biggest operation launched by the Centre. The scale of the present operations was bigger than even Uttarakhand (rains and flood tragedy last year) and cyclone Phailin (in Orissa). Our aim was that all agencies coordinated with each other.” He further went on to add that the agencies prioritised and rescued those “whose lives were in danger”. Mr Seth said, “So, this belief is not right (that selected rescue was undertaken). It was not physically possible to rescue everyone at the same time. Some constraints were there... I would not say selected few were rescued but I would compliment them (rescue agencies) rather.” The Cabinet secretary said all agencies, which are important stakeholders in this case, are “analysing why did it (floods) happen?” He also rejected the allegations that the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) was defunct, as it had no members. “The body does not have members but secretary NDMA is in Kashmir. It is not right to say that NDMA is defunct. The NDRF functions under the NDMA and it’s very much functional,” he said.
Even the efforts by the jawans of the police and CRPF are appreciated, Mr Seth said, adding, “but these first responders, who were already present in the state, were also affected”. Mr Seth said the Central government had sent officers to the flood-ravaged state in order to strengthen the arms of the local government.