Guessing game in J&K continues

The credit agreement has been in the works for a while. Concluding it now could be seen as granting one of the demands of Mehbooba that J&K must get priority in rehabilitation and relief

The process of keeping Mehbooba Mufti of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) happy continued on Thursday, but the putative Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) kept her cards close to her chest.

In Kashmir, the 15th day ceremonies after the death of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed were observed on Thursday. Politics was not discussed. The Bharatiya Janata Party has still been kept in the dark about when a government would assume office in the state.

While observers made light of the fact that Mehbooba Mufti's brother Tassaduq had paid a visit to Kashmir, this is being seen only as part of mourning. It is highly unlikely that Tassaduq will play a political role in the state. Such a move might alienate Mehbooba from her party members looking for excuses to attack her.

In a related development, India and the World Bank signed a $250-million credit agreement under the Jhelum and Tawi Flood Recovery Project for reconstruction and recovery support in flood-affected areas in which public infrastructure and livelihoods were impacted severely. The agreement is envisaged as strengthening the capacity of the state government to respond to and better manage natural disasters in the future.

The credit agreement has been in the works for a while. Concluding it now could be seen as granting one of the demands of Mehbooba that J&K must get priority in rehabilitation and relief.

The project will focus on 20 flood-affected districts - Anantnag, Baramula,Budgam, Bandipora, Ganderbal, Kupwara, Kulgam, Pulwama, Shopian, Srinagar, Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Reasi, Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, Poonch, Rajauri and Udhampur.

The credit agreement for the project was signed by Raj Kumar, Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, and Onno Ruhl, World Bank Country Director, India.

Following the continuous spell of rains in September 2014 that caused the Jhelum, Chenab and Tawi rivers, including their tributaries, and many other streams to rise above the danger mark, the Kashmir government has been demanding more money for the recovery and rehabilitation of the region, reconstruction of ruined infrastructure and compensation to people who lost everything in the floods. Due to the unprecedented heavy rainfall, the catchment areas, particularly the low-lying areas, were flooded for more than two weeks. Three hundred lives were lost and more than 648,000 hectares of agricultural and horticultural land affected.