Tag Archives: advance Central assistance for relief and rehabilitation measures

Rs. 1,000-crore advance aid for Andhra Pradesh

Posted in Andhra Pradesh News, national news by

 

HYDERABAD: After an aerial survey of the flood-hit areas of Andhra Pradesh, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday announced Rs. 1000 crore as advance Central assistance for relief and rehabilitation measures.

Dr. Singh said further assistance would come through in accordance with the established procedures, after a Central team visited the State to assess the extent of damage. During his survey of Krishna and Guntur districts, along with Chief Minister K. Rosaiah, he saw the devastation caused by the floods.

Responding to the charge that flood-hit Karnataka did not get adequate assistance from the Centre as it was ruled by the BJP, Dr. Singh said there was no discrimination against any State.

“When it comes to human tragedy, we will not discriminate between one State and another on political considerations. As long as I am the Prime Minister, it will not happen.”

When his response was sought to the Andhra Pradesh government’s demand that the floods be treated as a national calamity, he said: “Every such calamity is a national calamity. There is no particular reason why it should not be?”

Dr. Singh refused to be drawn into a discussion on the reported failure of the Central Water Commission and the early warning system on the impending floods. He said he was not here to find fault with agencies or judge how efficiently they had worked.

“My purpose was to get a broad idea of the havoc caused by the floods.” At the same time, the Centre would take a critical look at lapses, if any, including aspects relating to disaster management, and take remedial steps.

Asked to comment on AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi’s observations on inter-linking of rivers, the Prime Minister said the proposal was there for some time but it was not an easy task. It was a massive exercise having environmental implications and requiring a thorough study. The Water Resources Ministry was preparing a detailed project report. When he was told that the State government had sought Rs.12,225-crore aid, the Prime Minister asserted: “Money will not be a constraint. I assure people of the State of all help from the Centre. We will stand behind the State in this hour of crisis.”