Centre to rush 100 lakh quintal of wheat and rice to Bihar

New Delhi, Aug 26 (UNI) The Centre will rush 50 lakh quintal of wheat and 50 lakh quintal of rice free of cost as immediate relief to people caught in the unprecendented floods in the Kosi river in border districts of Bihar, Union Minister of State for Agriculture Akhilesh Prasad Singh announced today.

The UPA government's decision followed a meeting of RJD delegation with Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar this evening.

Mr Akhilesh Singh who also belonged to RJD said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would be visiting the flood ravaged Bihar on Thursday. The 100 lakh quintal of foodgrain amounted to Rs 157 crore.

Later addressing a press conference, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav said the railways would transport this foodgrain for relief to the state free of cost. Besides the RJD would set up relief camp and provide free "daliya" (porridge) to the people till the situation improved in the flood affected area.

He accused the Bihar Government, particularly Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, for not doing anything for the flood victims.

He said the Chief Minister had not even approached the Centre for any relief. "Perhaps he has some other priorities when people were suffering," he said.

The Railway Minister said the Prime Minister had confirmed that the Chief Minister had not met him in this connection. "We are ready to provide more relief to the state to overcome the natural calamity as soon as we receive an official communication from the Bihar Government," the Prime Minister had assured him (Mr Lalu Prasad).

Earlier, an RJD delegation led by former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi met the Prime Minister and Mr Pawar separately to impress upon them to send immediate relief to Bihar reeling under unprecedented floods.

UNI KAS PD KP 2020