Centre sanctions Rs 400 crore to check sea erosion

Thiruvananthapuram, Jun 20 (UNI) Kerala Water Resources Minister N K Premachandran told the State Assembly today, that the Centre had sanctioned about Rs 400 crore under the 12th Finance Commission Award and Tsunami Relief Programmes for the construction of protection walls to check sea erosion for 2006-2010.

Replying to a submission by Mr T N Prathapan (Cong), he said shortage for granites had affected construction of groynes as the government could obtain them from licensed quarries only.

The issue would be discussed with the Revenue Department, he said and hoped that shortage for granites could be solved soon.

Revenue Minister K P Rajendran said Collectors of coastal districts had been directed to sanction free ration for two weeks' to the people affected by sea erosion.

Replying to a Call Attention by Mr George M Thomas (CPI-M), he said the Centre had been requested to revise norms for providing relief for crop loss due to natural calamities. The present compensation for crop loss was inadequate under the existing norms, he said and added that the government had urged the Centre to enhance the compensation.

UNI