Kerala to urge Centre on compensation norms

Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 7 (UNI) Kerala Revenue Minister K P Rajendran today told the Assembly that the state government would urge the Centre to change its criteria for providing compensation to the affected in the natural calamities, including rain-related incidents.

Replying to questions from Mr P Krishnaprasad (CPM) and others, he said the government had authorised a seven-member Secretary-level committee to prepare recommendations in this regard.

Pointing out that the Centre's direction was to provide compensation to only those who died in monsoon-related incidents from June, he said the government would request New Delhi to provide financial assistance to all those who died before the date.

The Revenue Minister disclosed that 244 people were killed in rain-related incidents in the state till date in South-West Monsoon and the total loss in this connection was estimated at Rs 1,532.34 crore.

Mr Rajendran said according to the available data 17,70,944 people were directly affected by the monsoon havoc and crops in 35,337.13 hectare completely destroyed causing an estimated loss of Rs 183.78 crore.

Though the state government had asked the Centre to release Rs 641.29 for relief activities, only Rs 50 crore had been provided from the National Contingency Fund, he said and added that the government had already spent Rs 304.37 crore on this account.

UNI