Oscar defends delay in release of relief funds by Centre

Haliyal, Karnataka, Aug 30 (UNI) Union Minister of State without portfolio Oscar Fernandes today defended the delay by the Centre in releasing funds for rehabilitation work in flood-affected areas of Karnataka.

Talking to newsmen here, he said the Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, who made an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas, had assured the state government of reimbursing the funds spent on flood relief works on the day the state submitted its memorandum seeking Central help.

Mr Fernandes said that there were two components under which the funds had to be released. While one was immediate flood relief and the other was rehabilitation. Karnataka was asked to spend on both with an assurance of reimbursement.

Replying to a question, Mr Fernandes said there was no question of the Congress party encashing from corruption allegation against the Chief Minister of the coalition government. Some people have gone to court on the issue and some were demanding inquiry.

Earlier, Mr Fernandes, who launched the Toyota Technical Education Program (T-TEP) at Deshpande institute of vocational training, lauded the efforts of local legislator and former minister R V Deshpande for bringing in the T-TEP to the rural area like Haliyal to help the youth of the north Karnataka region.

The programme would help the poor and drop-out students to earn livelihood through this T-TEP, which required the completion of matriculation only. The T-TEP also assured job guarantee to the students undergoing the training.

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