The Hindu : Front Page : Rs. 200 crores more Central aid to State for flood relief

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Aug 12, 2006

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Rs. 200 crores more Central aid to State for flood relief

Special Correspondent

Manmohan 's announcement after `seeing the extensive damage'

SEEING IS BELIEVING: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh going round a photo exhibition on floods in the State at Hyderabad airport on Friday. Governor Rameshwar Thakur and Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy are also seen.

HYDERABAD: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday announced Rs. 200-crore more Central assistance from the National Calamity Contingency Fund (NCCF), "seeing the extensive damage", caused by the recent floods in Andhra Pradesh.

Wrapping up a brief hour-long visit to the State, Dr. Singh promised further assistance after a Central team's visit to the State shortly to assess the damage. He also announced ex gratia of Rs. 1 lakh each from the Prime Minister's Relief Fund to the next of the kin of 110 persons who perished in heavy rains and floods.

With Dr. Singh's announcement, the Central assistance now totals Rs. 400 crores, including Rs. 200 crores from the Calamity Relief Fund announced by Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil during his visit to the State on Wednesday.

Earlier, he flew over Godavari and Penganga basins in Nizamabad district en route Nanded in Maharashtra. On his return here, Dr. Singh went round a photo exhibition on flood damage, held a review meeting with Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, his Cabinet colleagues and officials and later received representations from various political parties.

Dr. Reddy submitted a memorandum putting the flood damage tentatively at Rs. 1014 crores, and sought additional Rs. 1000 crores for building bunds along the Godavari, Krishna, Vamsadhara and Nagavali. "This is a national calamity and without your help the State will be crippled," he told the Prime Minister while thanking him for visiting the State and extending cooperation.

Extensive damage

Dr. Manmohan Singh, who read out a statement at a press conference, noted that the Godavari had been flowing at unprecedented levels causing extensive flooding and damage to the rice bowl of the State-- the East and West Godavari districts. North Coastal Andhra, including Srikakulam and Visakhapatnam, were also badly affected.

He said many cities and towns and over 5000 villages had been flooded and lakhs of families had lost their homes and belongings. Canal systems too were damaged. The Chief Minister and the State Government had been working extremely hard to restore normal life in the affected areas. "I commend their efforts and that of the armed forces," he added, while promising the State that he would do "all that is necessary to support rescue and relief operations".

Describing Andhra Pradesh as the granary of South India, he said the floods "which I am told are the second highest in history should not affect the productive capacity of the fertile lands. We will work jointly with the State Government to quickly restore the canal and irrigation system to a good condition."

In its memorandum, the Telugu Desam Party demanded release of Rs. 1000 crores for relief operations, declaring floods a national calamity and Rs. 1500 crores for strengthening of bunds.

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