Additional aid to northeastern states

P Chidambaram announced central assistance of Rs 1,200 crore to northeastern and hill states of Uttarakhand and HP

Finance Minister P.Chidambaram today announced additional central assistance to the tune of Rs.1,200 crore to the northeastern states and flood-hit Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.

"The northeastern states, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand deserve special attention. In addition to funds allocated in the current year, I propose to release a sum of Rs.1,200 crore as additional central assistance to these states before the end of the year," Chidambaram said in his interim budget in the Lok Sabha.

Parts of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh were affected due to floods last year.

Unprecedented flash floods and landslides hit Uttarakhand in June 2013, causing havoc, leaving thousands of residents and tourists dead and thousands homeless. At the same time, heavy rain and snow claimed 23 lives in Himachal Pradesh and washed away roads, houses and thousands of acres of apple orchards.