Central team to recommend immediate relief for Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram, July 14 (UNI) The Central team, which visited Kerala for assessing the damage caused by monsoon-related incidents would submit its report to the Centre for providing immediate relief to the state.

The report would accord priority to the states demands and also its recommendations for relief in the affected areas, Joint Secretary (Home) D S Mishra, who led the team, told reporters here today after meeting Chief Minister V S Achutanandan.

Mr Achutanandan said the central team was aware of the situation in the state and he expected a positive response from them. According to Chief Minister, the central team had said that they would look into the memorandum submitted by the state government for immediate relief.

The team, which came here on July 12 also held discussions with Revenue Minister K P Rajendran, other ministers and officials.

The team visited Thiruvananthapuram, Alappuzha, Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram and Kannur districts and interacted with people's representatives and local officials at various places.

Kerala had submitted a first report on the calamities and sought Central assistance of Rs 149.80 crore. The government had already submitted a memorandum to the Centre seeking Rs 991.50 crore under the Disaster Management Programme.

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