The Hindu : Front Page : Rs. 500 crores more for relief

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Thursday, Aug 04, 2005

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Front Page

Rs. 500 crores more for relief

Special Correspondent

Shivraj Patil says money will not be a constraint; long-term plan to be evolved

COMMUTERS' IRE: Residents of Mumbra in Thane district of Maharashtra block a train in protest against ``enormous'' delay in resumption of rail services, on Wednesday. Traffic was hit for almost five hours due to the agitation. -- PHOTO: PTI

NEW DELHI: The Centre on Wednesday announced in the Rajya Sabha a second instalment of Rs. 500 crores for flood relief in Mumbai and 18 districts of Maharashtra, which have been hit by unprecedented heavy rain.

The Rs. 500 crores would be in addition to the first instalment of Rs 500 crores announced by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil said while replying to a calling attention on the floods, moved by senior BJP member Pramod Mahajan.

Reiterating the Government's commitment to carry out relief operations on a war footing, Mr. Patil said that money would not be a constraint in tiding over the crisis and informed the House that a long-term plan to tackle floods in Mumbai through a better drainage system would be drawn up.

Permanent body

Mr. Patil said the Government has already set up a permanent body, the National Disaster Management Authority with the Prime Minister as its chairman to deal with natural calamities. The NDMA was set up through an executive order, pending the passage of the Disaster Management Bill, now before a Parliamentary Standing committee.

He suggested that State governments could set up a similar authority with the Chief Minister heading it and taking the mechanism down to the district level. Sharing the concern of the members, he said the State government would be requested to provide foodgrains to slum dwellers in Mumbai without insisting on ration cards. Mr. Patil said the State administration had been working overtime to provide succour to the people. There could have been some shortcomings but highlighting only negative aspects of the relief work would do no good, he said.

Nariman's suggestion

There were some anxious moments when Fali S. Nariman (Nominated) suggested that Mumbai, the commercial capital of the country, be made a Union Territory to improve its administration. It was immediately objected to by Pramod Mahajan who said that Mumbai could never be taken away from Maharashtra.

Mr. Patil also said the Government was not in favour of such moves as it would prompt others to make similar demands in respect of other metropolitan cities such as Bangalore, Chennai and Kolkata. He, however, felt there was merit in the demand that Bombay Municipality having a budget of Rs 7,000 crores, which was more than the budget of several States, needed to improve its working in providing civic amenities.

The issue also figured in the Lok Sabha with Shiv Sena MP Suresh Prabhu demanding more funds both for Maharasthra and Mumbai. Attacking the State government, he said, it failed in carrying out relief work. "Disaster Management has become disaster in management."

His party colleague Mohan Rawle demanded Rs. 10,000 crores for Maharasthra and Rs. 5,000 crores for Mumbai city. He said besides the metropolis, several districts such as Konkan, Thane and Marathwada were reeling under floods. Ramdas Athawale of the Republican Party of India suggested that MPs be allowed to donate Rs. 10 Lakhs from the MP local areas development fund for relief and rehabilitation of the flood-affected.

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