LS MPs seek Central assistance for their flood-hit states

New Delhi, Aug 11 (UNI) Members from flood-hit states today demanded in the Lok Sabha immediate financial packages from the Centre to carry out relief and rescue work.

Raising the issue during zero hour, Mr Madhusudan Mistry (Cong) said the Gujarat government had failed to provide relief to the affected people and wanted the Centre to issue a directive to the state to utilise the Central assistance properly.

Mr Harin Pathak (BJP), contending that Mr Mistry was politicising a natural calamity, sought a Central assistance of Rs 2,000 crore for Gujarat. Diamond business worth Rs 40,000 crore in Surat, which remained submerged for several days following heavy rains, and textile and chemical industries in the state had been severely hit, he said.

Mr Yerran Naidu (TDP) demanded that the floods in Andhra Pradesh be declared as a national calamity. The Centre should provide an immediate assistance of Rs 1,000 to the state government which, he said, had fallen far short of providing succour to the affected people.

Mr Ramdas Athawale (RPI-A) sought a Rs 1,500 crore Central package for Maharashtra.

Mr Prahlad Joshi and Mr Ananth Kumar (both BJP) sought Central assistance to Karnataka. Mr Ananth Kumar said the Centre was adopting a step-motherly attitude towards Karnataka by announcing a Rs 200 crore interim relief only to Andhra Pradesh, ignoring his state.

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