Bihar Govt asks Centre to release Rs 17,000 crore for flood relief

New Delhi, Oct 5 (UNI) Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has asked the Centre to sanction a sum of Rs 17,000 crore to the state for relief and rehabilitation work for the people affected by the devastating floods.

Mr Kumar told reporters here that he met Finance Minsiter P Chidambaram and Home Minister Shivraj Patil and asked them to sanction Rs 12,000 crore for reconstruction of damaged roads and inter-linking of rivers in the state. Besides, Rs 4200 crore has been demanded for reconstruction of damaged house of the people affected with one of the worst floods in the history of the state.

The Chief Minister said both the ministers agreed with the state government's demand and promised to provide adequate relief material to the state for flood relief.

The state government has spent about Rs 1,302 crore for the flood relief work till now, he said, adding that till now there has been no release of relief material or money from the Centre.

Regarding recent incidents of mob violence and public lynching of criminals in the state which have even been condemned by the Prime Minister, he said stringent measures have been taken to bring the culprits to the book.

Cases have been registered and speedy trial has been conducted in many cases, he said adding that an awareness drive has also been launched asking people not to take law into their own hands.

Mr Kumar said many steps have been taken to enforce the rule of law and till now 1300 people have been given life imprisonment in various cases through speedy trial.

About the possibility of Maoists from Nepal infilterating the state during the recent elections in the Himalayan nation, and the Centre's alert in this regard, Mr Kumar said India and Nepal have open borders and free movement of people is taking place.

However, he discounted this posing any danger to the state.

The Chief Minister also enumerated various initiatives that was being taken by the state goverment to deal with naxalism through bringing development to the backward people in the state. He said Sarkar Apke Dwar scheme was being launched in 27 blocks to bring development to the people so that they become integrated to the mainstream.

Mr Kumar also urged the Centre to provide more funds to the state for various developmental projects.

UNI