Central team holds meeting with Rajasthan CS on flood damage

Jaipur, Sep 6 (UNI) A Central study team has given assurance that all efforts would be made to provide every possible assistance for the flood affected areas of Rajasthan.

The Central study team, led by the Registrar General (Census) D K Sikri gave this assurance at a meeting organised under the chairmanship of the Rajasthan's chief secretary Anil Vaish here today.

The members of the team said they had extensively toured the affected districts and seen the damage caused by heavy rains.

The team had come to the state for an 'on the spot' assessment of the situation in the wake of heavy rains and floods in Rajasthan.

The chief secretary said the state had witnessed an unprecedented situation of heavy rainfall, particularly in Western Rajasthan, which was totally unfamiliar and thus there was no preparedness to meet this kind of situation.

He said the normal assistance provided by the Centre was not adequate keeping in view the nature and the magnitude of the calamity.

Mr Vaish requested the team members to make a submission of extraordinary assistance for the flood affected areas of Rajasthan apart from the assistance provided under the CRF and NCCF norms, since the state had witnessed an extraordinary situation.

The state government had submitted a memorandum asking for a package of assistance of Rs 3200 crores. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had also assured Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, during her meeting with him yesterday that the Centre would provide every assistance to the flood affected people of Rajasthan, Mr Vaish informed.

The chief secretary said public assets to the tune of crores of rupees had been devastated by incessant rains and floods in the state and they need to be restored which requires long term assistance.

He asked the members of the team to reflect this damage in the report.

Mr Vaish appreciated the efforts made by all the agencies in the relief and rescuing measures, especially the efforts of the defence forces including the Army, Air force and the Indian Navy, in rescuing the people in Kawas and Malwa village in Barmer district.

UNI XC SHB HT2225