Centre apathetic to Gujarat's flood woes: Minister

Gandhinagar, July 7 (UNI) Gujarat Finance Minister Saurabh Patel today condemned the Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre for its ''apathetic approach towards Gujarat in tackling the recent floods''.

Following the 2006 and recent floods in the state, the state government immediately spent Rs 851.49 crore while the Central Government's contributed a mere Rs 305.77 crore, Mr Patel told reporters here.

Gujarat is yet to receive the Rs 500 crore which Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had assured after the Surat floods last year, Mr Patel alleged.

Mr Patel said Gujarat had sought Rs 191.86 crore from the Centre for damage to crops following floods but the Centre had granted just Rs 27.17 crore. Likewise, the state had sought Rs 37.67 crore to combat epidemics but the Centre had granted only Rs 8.67 crore. For restoration of water supply, the state had asked for Rs 55.70 crore against which the Centre granted a mere Rs 1.04 crore, Mr Patel alleged.

UNI