Flood relief: K'taka seeks President's intervention

Bangalore, Aug 21 (UNI) Accusing the Centre of discriminating against Karnataka in providing flood relief assistance, the State today sought President A P J Abdul Kalam's intervention to direct the Union Government to immediately release Rs 100 crore as interim relief, even before a Central team assessed the situation.

In a memorandum to the President during his two-day visit to the State, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy sought treating Karnataka on par with other flood-ravaged States like Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, which have been extended Rs 200 crore each even before a Central team could assess the damage.

Mr Kumaraswamy said the State was finding it difficult to cope up financially in dealing with the flood situation in the basins of rivers Krishna and Bhima.

The State had sought an assistance of Rs 906.72 crore for taking up relief operations in the flood-ravaged areas and Rs 500 crore for drought relief in other areas, besides three lakh metric tonnes of foodgrains to mitigate the drought situation.

Mr Kumaraswamy later told mediapersons the President had assured him to take up the matter with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and convey the State's concerns.

The Chief Minister submitted the memorandum on the first citizen's arrival at Bangalore University's Jnanajyothi Auditorium to attend a national seminar on Women - Science and Technology, organised by the varsity. Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa was also present on the occasion.

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