GILGIT: Gilgit-Baltistan Disaster Management Authority (GBDMA) Director General Shuja Alam has stated that recent torrential rains and floods in the region have resulted in severe flooding in 23 locations and substantial river erosion in eight areas.
While briefing the G-B cabinet about the damages caused by the recent floods on Monday, Alam said that the heavy rains and heat in July and August had accelerated glacier melting, leaving 157 houses and 17 connecting bridges heavily damaged.
He mentioned that the G-B government has swiftly responded by forming a scrutiny committee under the leadership of Additional Chief Secretary of Electric Power, Captain (retd) Mushtaq Ahmed. The GBDMA DG added that the committee had reviewed and approved emergency works amounting to Rs 924 million, with Rs 220 million allocated for the immediate approval of 76 projects.
The cabinet decided to expedite rehabilitation efforts in flood-affected areas of the Astore district and announced compensation for the families of those who lost their lives in the disaster. It was also decided that Kashwant village, severely impacted by the recent floods, will be declared a disaster-stricken area. The cabinet also prioritized the approval of emergency works in flood-affected regions across Gilgit-Baltistan since 2022.
Additionally, the cabinet approved measures to ensure timely local government elections, including the delimitation of rural and urban boundaries and the establishment of new town areas and union councils.
The cabinet also sanctioned the deployment of local volunteers on the Thak-Babusar road to ensure the safety and convenience of tourists. The cabinet decided to request the assistance of the Pakistan Army and Civil Armed Forces to maintain law and order during the upcoming Chehlum.
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Moreover, the implementation of the Gilgit-Baltistan Government Servants Benevolent Fund and Group Insurance Act 2024 was also approved.
To facilitate the allocation of land for the construction of a Regional Grid Phase at Maqpoon Das and to accelerate the progress of the 16 MW hydropower project, the cabinet also approved amendments to the Gilgit-Baltistan System of Financial Control and Budgeting Rules 2009.
Furthermore, land was allocated for several key projects: 4 kanals for the establishment of an Incubation Center at Khurming University, 1 kanal for the Diamer Press Club at Harpen Das, 30 kanals for an Advanced Recruitment Center, Pre-Joining Training Center, and High-Altitude Center for Special Services in Skardu, and 200 kanals to the Ramday Trust for the establishment of Siachen University in Ganche. Additionally, the cabinet mandated the allocation of land for a 54 MW hydropower project at Attabad Hunza by WAPDA, pending committee approval.
The cabinet referred the issue of regularizing EPI employees of the Health Department and the transfers of government employees on medical grounds to a committee. Moreover, the cabinet granted preliminary approval to the STEM and Entrepreneurship Development project proposed by the Education Department.