LG administration must urgently utilize all its available resources to fight the COVID-19 pandemic : Basharat Bukhari

Srinagar: Former minister and senior Peoples Conference leader Syed Basharat Bukhari on Monday has urged the LG administration to utilize all its available resources to fight the prevalent pandemic and save precious human lives from getting consumed by the deadly virus.

As per the statement issued to Kashmir news service (KNS), Bukhari said post-2014 floods and formation of the popular government under Mr Mufti Mohammad Sayeed in 2015, the World Bank provided financial assistance of Rs 1500 crores for the reconstruction of the public infrastructure, bridges, roads and buildings, industries, disaster management, the morphology of rivers and tributaries in the state.

Bukhari who was also holding the Relief, Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Disaster Management portfolio in the government said that out of these 1500 crore rupees, projects worth an estimated 368 Crores were shelved by this LG administration due to the involvement of litigations and other issues and this amount was diverted to Contingency Emergency Reserve to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I don’t know how much grants have been provided from the government of India for addressing the COVID-19 health care infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir,
but the administration has additional 368 crores at its disposal to address the COVID-19 emergency support operations and response measures”, he said.

Bukhari urged the administration to immediately address the paucity of oxygen supplies, medicines and ensure creation of separate COVID wards through this amount

“We must build more infrastructure to contain and curb more possible (God forbid) upsurge of the pandemic. We should not exhibit the lacklustre attitude which was exhibited last year after the curve was flattened effectively”, Bukhari said.

He maintained further that the voices being raised by Kashmir’s political spectrum over the ongoing situation shouldn’t be mistaken as political rhetoric; rather same should be viewed by those at the helm as a concern from the state’s responsible citizenry.

“We are all worried over the present scenario and how masses are engulfed into an insurmountable predicament. There are reports of oxygen dearth, shrinking space of hospitals, and dearth of vaccines coming to the fore. It is high time that such concerns are addressed on priority and without delay,” Bukhari said while urging the people to religiously adhere to the experts-issued guidelines and SOPs.

He further asked the COVID-19 frontline warriors like the medical fraternity and people associated with emergency services to take care of their health as well and follow SOPs in letter and spirit.(KNS)