BJP leaders meet PM on funds for cyclone-hit Andhra, Odisha

A BJP delegation met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today to apprise him of the damage caused by cyclone Phailin to Odisha and Andhra Pradesh and told him that no relief funds sanctioned by the Centre for the two states have been given yet.
The delegation- comprising of M Venkaiah Naidu, Dharmendra Pradhan, G Kishan Reddy, Jual Oram and Hansraj Ahir among others- got a patient hearing from Singh. The Prime Minister told them that he is already in touch with the Chief Ministers of both the states and assured them that the Centre will do the needful.
"The Centre had sanctioned Rs 1,000 crore to each of the two states. We pointed out to the PM that despite this, not a penny has been released to Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. The PM immediately directed the officials present to see that the amount is released at the earliest," Naidu later told reporters.

The delegation submitted a memorandum to the PM and gave him some suggestions.
"The Prime Minister said he wanted to visit the flood- affected areas of the two states but it is too late. We told him he can still visit the areas," Naidu said.
The BJP leaders also asked the PM to depute Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar to look at the destruction of crops in the region due to the cyclone and consequent floods.
Naidu said Andhra Pradesh is the worst affected as it has faced several cyclones and even a Tsunami in the last decade but the Centre "has not given it funds".

"We also brought to the notice of the PM that Andhra Pradesh has suffered losses to the tune of Rs 45,000 crore in the last ten years due to calamities and requested financial help of Rs 44,900 crore. But the government only released Rs 2,540.27 Crore which is only 5 per cent of the amount," Naidu said.