Nitish tours flood relief camps

Patna, Oct 18 (UNI) Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today reiterated that the flood relief camps would continue to function till the flood victims required to stay there, adding that health, education and employment generating infrastructure would be available there.

After touring the flood relief camps in Araria district, Mr Kumar said the state governmeent began rescue operation soon after the breach in the Kushaha embankment after which the mighty river Kosi changed its course.

He said about 4.5 lakh people, displaced by the catastrophic floods, had been given shelter in different relief camps, which would continue to operate till the victims required to stay there.

Each of the displaced families were being provided with one quintal of foodgrains and Rs 2,250 in cash, he said and assured that no one would be left to starve and the government would supply sufficient foodgrains in the affected area.

He said the engineers were struggling to reverse the course of Kosi river. The agricultural lands would be again made suitable for farming, he said, and lauded the efforts of those involved in the flood relief work.

The Kosi region would be reconstructed, the Chief Minister said and announced to provide financial help of Rs 10,000 to the parents of the baby boys born in the relief camps and Rs 11,000 to the parents of the baby girls born there.

UNI RS DPM/src1925