Kerala - Alappuzha   

State may fund tsunami rehabilitation projects

ALAPPUZHA: The Revenue Department is contemplating utilising funds from the State government’s own coffers for tsunami rehabilitation projects that have been approved by the Union government but for which funds are yet to arrive.

Revenue Minister K.P. Rajendran, speaking to reporters at the tsunami-hit Andhakaranazhi and Pallithode areas here on Monday, hinted that his department had discussed such a temporary arrangement with the Finance Department, taking into consideration the urgency with which the rehabilitation works had to be completed.

Though the Union government had approved rehabilitation projects for Rs.460 crore out of the projects worth Rs.960 crore submitted by the State government, only Rs.68 crore has been made available so far. With this amount being insufficient for the work, the Revenue Department would adjust with money from the State treasury till further funds come from the Union government.

The Minister also said that the government was aiming to complete all tsunami rehabilitation work by 2009.

The work would be launched on October 3 at Neendakara by Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan.

Informing that the State government was holding talks with the Union government for an emergency grant of Rs.400 crore to waive loans of fishermen and others in coastal areas, the Minister said a request for additional funds for the Rs.5 crore-rehabiliation project in Andhakaranazhi too would be made.

Repair works would soon begin for spillway bridges in Andharakanazhi while the Ambalapuzha-Fort Kochi coastal highway would be completed soon, he added.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

State may fund tsunami rehabilitation projects

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu