Naveen Patnaik meets PM, demands more flood relief funds

New Delhi, Aug 4 (ANI): Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik met Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh here today and demanded more flood relief funds for his state.

Patnaik told, "I met the Prime Minister regarding many important matters for Orissa. First of all, the funds that the Centre owes to us for very serious floods that happened last year in my state. That money is owed to us."

Patnaik said that he had also asked for funds for the mid-day meal scheme in his state.

The issue of mineral royalty that the Centre owes to Orissa was also discussed at the meeting, he added.

"The Prime Minister has assured me that this has been tackled to some extent," he said.

On Polavaram issue, Patnaik said he had sought an assurance from the Prime Minister.

Patnaik had earlier opposed the Centre's move to give a national tag to the multi-purpose Polavaram project at the "behest" of Andhra Pradesh.

In that letter, Patnaik had written to the Prime Minister that Orissa would be adversely affected by the project. This was Patnaik's first meeting with the Prime Minister after Assembly elections in the state. (ANI)