Mulayam to donate Rs one crore for flood victims

Patna, Sept 3(UNI) Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh today announced to donate Rs one crore for the flood victims of Bihar and demanded that the Centre frame a national water policy.

Mr Yadav a national water policy said it would purge off the disputes between the states and problems of irrigation would also be solved by channelising the flood water.

After an aerial survey of the flood ravaged areas of Bihar, Mr Yadav, along with his party national general secretary Amar Singh and party Bihar unit president Ashok Kumar Singh, told newspersons here that the flood had caused vast damage leaving scores dead and rendering lakhs of people homeless.

Describing the flood fury as ''natural calamity,'' Mr Yadav, the former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, announced to donate Rs one crore to Railway minister Lalu Prasad as the latter was engaged in relief and rescue operations in the flood ravaged areas.

'' Had my party been in power in UP, I would have donated Rs 100 crore in the first installement,'' Mr Yadav said adding the people of Bihar and UP shared emotional relations.

Mr Amar Singh, who was also present in the press conference, alleged of apathetic attitude in maintaining the embankment which resulted into the catastrophic floods in North Bihar.

He dubbed it a serious issue saying that the chief minister cannot shy away from his responsibilities.

He further alleged that the flood victims were not getting the relief materials and appealed to the NGOs to come forward and help in the hour of need.

Mr Singh said he would call on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for providing additional help to Bihar to cope with the situation.

To a query regarding generating help from his Bollywood contacts in reconstruction of Bihar, Mr Singh retorted saying that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar too enjoyed good contacts in glittering world.

Without taking any name, he said the ''Hot director'' who directed and produced several movies on the issues of Bihar had got land worth Rs five crore at a throwaway price from the state government, can be of some help. Above all the Bihari Babu is also there who can extend help in this situation,he added.

He said the Tata group of industries should also come forward to help reconstruct the state.

UNI RS KK DB2002