Funds to Vidarbha already released: PMO

New Delhi, July 7: Denying media reports, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) today clarified that there was no delay in releasing money from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund to the debt-hit farmers of Vidarbha districts of Maharashtra.

''Rs three crore had been dispersed to six districts of Vidarbha in July 2006 itself,'' the PMO said in a statement here.

As for Rs 50 lakh announced as financial assistance by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in July last year for the debt-stressed farmers of 31 districts, including six Vidarbha districts, the PMO said it was a one time grant at the disposal of the District Collector concerned.

''The cheque under reference was issued by the local District authorities in Maharashtra, and not honoured because of local issues, and not on account of any delay in release of funds from Prime Minister's National Relief Fund.

''The District authorities are taking action to disburse relief in cash immediately,'' the statement said.

In addition to Rs three crore for six Vidarbha districts, funds amounting to Rs 12.5 crore to the remaining 25 districts of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala have also been released without any delay, and the Prime Minister's announcement of this initiative, from Prime Minister's National Relief Fund, has been completed, the statement added.

A section of the media has reported that a cheque of the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund for relief to farmers in Vidarbha has bounced due to delay in releasing funds, and also mentions a state government affidavit filed in the supreme Court.

The PMO said the State Government had already filed an additional affidavit in the Supreme Court in March this year stating that there was no delay on the part of the PMO to release funds.

UNI