Funds Will Be No Constraints in Floods Relief Work: Chidambaram
Assuring that funds will be not constraint for relief and rehabilitation, the Centre has asked Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh governments to focus on providing succor to the affected people.
On his visit to flood-affected areas of the two southern states, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram said that the state governments can immediately utilize the Calamity Relief Funds (CRF) and once 75% of it is used up, they can 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,” the minister said in a statement.
Chidambaram assured the state governments that availability of funds would not be a constraint and that they should focus on providing relief to the affected people.
The measures were taken following consultation with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
The minister said that following return of Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee from his trip abroad, further measures would be considered.
“We have advised these interim measures in order that rescue and relief operations should continue without hindrance,” he said.
Yesterday, Chidambaram, along with UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, made an aerial survey of flood-hit regions of the two states.
“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.
He 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 and that it stands prepared to provide more help, if needed.
It may be mentioned that 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.
