NC seeks probe into utilization of funds meant for Jhelum dredging after 2014 flood

Srinagar: Blaming the PDP-led coalition government of “rampant mis-governance”, National Conference on Monday sought an enquiry into the funds utilized for the dredging of Jhelum river after the 2014 deluge.
Addressing the party’s South Zone meeting at Dak Bunglow Anantnag on Monday, the NC Vice President Omar Abdullah said there should be an enquiry into the expenditure of funds that were meant for the dredging of Jehlum after the devastating floods of 2014.
He accused the PDP-BJP led government of “massive scams and rampant misgovernance over the past three and a half years besides pushing the State into an abyss of political uncertainty and widespread disenchantment.”
“What happened to the money meant for dredging the Jehlum? When Mufti Sahab formed an alliance with the BJP in 2014 we were led to believe that one of the main reasons for this sell-out was to facilitate the flow of flood relief and rehabilitation funds to the State. What happened to the 90,000 crore package? Just a few days ago we witnessed how a moderate rainfall for two days brought us on the brink of deluge and destruction as our rivers and floods channels were not dredged and de-silted for the past three and a half years. Is there a massive scam here?” asked Abdullah, according to a statement issued by the party.
Abdullah said the people deserve to know who is responsible and what happened to the funds. “Similarly there were massive scams in various other departments where funds have virtually disappeared. Apart from pushing the State into the throes of turmoil and chaos, the PDP-BJP Alliance failed on every single basic front of governance as well,” he said.
Abdullah also refuted the reports that the party could be a part of any government formation in the state following the collapse of PDP-BJP alliance.
“National Conference doesn’t believe in sacrificing its ideological basis for power and the party will not be a part of any attempts for government formation through rumoured permutations and combinations. We believe in respecting the mandate of the people and will not be a part of any attempts to ridicule and manipulate the aspirations of the people. It is for this precise reason that the party has sought the dissolution of the State Legislative Assembly,” he said.
Abdullah said the situation in the state was not conducive for immediate polls. “…we are of the firm believe that only a fresh democratic exercise can repose the faith of the people in the institutions and system of democracy in the State”.