New Delhi: The Centre on Tuesday assured
flood-ravaged Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh that funds will not
be a constraint for relief and rehabilitation and asked them
to focus on providing succour to the affected people.
Home Minister P Chidambaram, who visited the flood-hit
areas of the two southern states, said the state governments
may utilise the Calamity Relief Fund (CRF) immediately and
once 75 per cent of CRF is exhausted, the states may draw on
the National Calamity Contingency Fund (NCCF).
"Advances from NCCF will be provided. As soon as the
state government concerned is ready to receive the Central
team, a team will be sent to the state to assess the damage
according to well established norm," he said in a statement.
"I wish to assure the state governments that
availability of funds will not be a constraint and that they
should focus on providing relief to the affected people," he
said.
The measures have been taken after consultation with
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Chidambaram said further measures would be considered
on the return of Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee from his
trip abroad tomorrow.
"We have advised these interim measures in order that
rescue and relief operations should continue without
hindrance," he said.
Chidambaram made an aerial survey of the flood-hit
areas along with UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi yesterday.
"We were deeply moved by the scale of the calamity.
The loss of life, property, cattle, and standing crops is
enormous. Lakhs of people have been accommodated in camps.
Rescue and relief operations are in full swing, and it may
take a few more days for the situation to stabilise. There
will be more work to be done in the days and weeks ahead," he
said.
Chidambaram said the Government has rushed aid and
help to the affected States in the form of troops, rescue and
relief forces, diving and swimming teams, boats and
helicopters.
"The Central government stands ready to provide more
help, if needed." he added.
An amount of Rs 139.36 crore has been allocated in the
CRF for Karnataka for 2009-10, comprising Rs 104.52 crore as
Central contribution and Rs 34.84 crore as State contribution.
The first installment of Central share of CRF amounting to Rs
52.26 crore has already been released.
An amount of Rs 418.22 crore has been allocated in the
CRF for Andhra Pradesh for 2009-10, comprising Rs 313.66 crore
as central contribution and Rs 104.56 crore as State
contribution. The first installment of Central share of CRF
amounting to Rs. 156.83 crore has already been released.
Bureau Report
First Published: Tuesday, October 06, 2009, 12:10