PM announces Rs 200 cr more for flood hit AP

Hyderabad, Aug 11: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today announced another Rs 200-crore from the National Calamity Contingency Fund and Rs one lakh each for the families of 110 people killed in the floods in Andhra Pradesh.

Reviewing the flood situation with Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, state cabinet ministers and officials after an aerial survey of the Godavari and Penganga basins, Dr Singh promised of all assistance from the Centre to quickly restore the canal and irrigation systems in the state.

Moved by the extensive damage, he said, ''I am sanctioning Rs 200 crore assistance immediately from the National Calamity Contingency Fund in addition to Rs 200 crore released from the Calamity Relief Fund announced two days ago''.

Noting that the damage caused by the Godavari river was unprecedented in the rice bowl of East and West Godavari districts, he said he would send central teams shortly to assess the damage and provide further assistance.

Thanking the Prime Minister for coming to the rescue of the state, Dr Reddy put the initial estimates of the losses at more than Rs 1000 crore.

He sought the Centre's cooperation in strengthening bunds of the major rivers in the state, including Godavari, Krishna, Vamshadhara and Nagavali at a cost of about Rs 1000 crore.

Complimenting the Andhra Pradesh Government for working extremely hard for restoring normal life in the affected parts, Prime Minister said, ''we will do all that is necessary for rescue and relief operations''.

UNI

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