Hyderabad: The Andhra Pradesh government
on Tuesday submitted a memorandum to the Central Government seeking a financial assistance of Rs 21,356.72 crore towards drought
and flood relief and rehabilitation.
State revenue minister Dharmana Prasada Rao said, of
the total assistance sought from the Centre, Rs 11,609.25
crore was towards flood relief and restoration while Rs
9,747.47 crore was towards drought relief.
Addressing a press conference here today, the minister
said two high-level official teams from the Centre would
visit the drought and flood-hit districts of the state from
October 24-29 to assess the extent of damage.
"We have so far received Rs 418 crore from the
Calamity Relief Fund and another Rs 1000 crore from the Prime
Minister`s Relief Fund. Based on the assessment of the Central
teams, we hope to get further assistance from the Government
of India," Dharmana added.
He said 981 mandals in the state have been declared as
drought-hit because of deficient rainfall this Kharif season.
Subsequently there were good rains across the state
and the situation will be helpful only for the ensuing Rabi
crop season. Reservoirs, tanks and other water sources got
recharged because of the rains in the last week of September,
the minister pointed out.
Giving a break-up of the financial assistance sought,
Dharmana said Rs 747.19 crore was towards rescue and relief
operations, Rs 2,328.64 towards temporary restoration works
and another Rs 8,533.42 crore for permanent restoration of
damaged infrastructure.
Irrigation projects alone would require Rs 3,500 crore
for permanent restoration and Rs 327 crore for temporary
restoration, he pointed out.
"We are trying to secure funds under different Central
schemes for the permanent restoration works. In all 87 mandals
in five districts in the river Krishna basin have been badly
affected by the recent floods. A total of 4,19,339 families
were affected by the unprecedented floods," the revenue
minister said.
Union Joint Secretary (Agriculture) Upma Choudary
would lead an eight-member team to assess the impact of
drought while Joint Secretary (Home Affairs) D Deepti Vilas
would head the eight-member team to study the damage caused by
floods. The respective district Collectors have been directed
to explain in detail the extent of damage to the visiting
Central teams, the minister said.
Bureau Report
