Centre to release 1,000 crore as flood relief for Andhra Pradesh: Manmohan Singh

Hyderabad, Oct 9 (ANI): The Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh on Friday announced Rs 1,000 crore as immediate flood related relief to rehabilitate people in Andhra Pradesh.

Addressing a press meet here after conducting an aerial survey of the flood-affected regions of the state, Singh said, "Initially, the Central Government will release Rs. 1,000 crore."

" I have asked the State Government to send a detailed report of assessment of loss due to the flood and the Centre will send a team after studying that report and the required money will be given according to the team's recommendations," Singh added.

Singh also termed the devastation in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh as a national calamity.

When asked for whether his government now give serious thought to the issue of interlinking of rivers, Singh said: "We have that proposal from many years but the there are a lot of issues to be studied before implementing that project. It is not easy to undertake interlink waters as it involves environmental aspects."

Dr. Singh also expressed confidence that GDP would grow at the rate of 6.3 to 6.5 percent in fiscal 2009-10.

Singh was accompanied by State Chief Minister K. Rosaiah in a helicopter that flew over the flood hit Krishna and Guntur District.

Singh is scheduled to undertake an aerial survey of flood-hit Kurnool and Mahbubnagar districts on Saturday morning before flying to Karnataka to survey flood-hit areas in that state. (ANI)