No funds for flood victims, but J&K MLAs get SUVs

Legislators in Jammu and Kashmir will soon be travelling in brand new sports vehicles following the PDP-BJP government ordered 100 new Mahindra Scorpio S10 BS4s for them at a whopping cost of over Rs 11 crore. This, even as the state is grappling with paucity of funds to rehabilitate the victims of last year's floods.

The order to this effect was issued by the state home department, a portfolio under the charge of Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, on Wednesday.

The 100 new SUVs, each costing over Rs 11 lakh, will be procured at DGS&D rates under state budget.

"Sanction is accorded to procurement of 100 Mahindra Scorpio S10 BS4 vehicles on DGS&D rates of Rs 11,26,208 per vehicle in favour of the Director General of Police, J-K as sitting vehicle for use of Hon'ble MLAs/MLCs, during the current financial year 2015-16," reads the order issued by R K Goyal, principal secretary to the government, department of home, on September 2.

The order comes days ahead of the first anniversary of the floods which devastated the state, killing 300 people and destroyed property worth thousands of crores.

Flood victims, especially traders, are marking the anniversary on September 7 to protest the "failure" of the state as well as the central government to rehabilitate them.

Opposition National Conference has criticised the decision, saying on one hand the ruling PDP claims that the coalition inherited empty coffers from the previous government, while on the other they have money to buy 100 new SUVs.

"The @jkpdp President claims they inherited empty coffers when they clearly have enough money to buy 100 new Boleros," NC working president and former chief minister Omar Abdullah tweeted.