Centre's politics echo in UP Assembly

Prevalent political situation at the Centre found an indirect reference in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly today, with the Congress asking the Samajwadi Party to continue its support, and in turn the Congress helping the state government with its request on hiking compensation of natural calamities.
The matter came up during supplementaries on a question by Shyam Dev Roychaudhary on loss of life and property due to rain and lightning in 2012.
As soon as Pramod Tewari (Congress) made a point, Revenue Minister Ambika Chaudhary quipped that he thought Tewari had got up to assure that he will help in getting a positive response from the Centre on the proposal of increasing the compensation amount.

"You continue to give your shoulder (support) and at some date in December, our entire group will go to facilitate redressal of this proposal", Tewari said.
Earlier, Ambika Chaudhary told the House that in 2012, a total of 202 people lost their lives to excessive rainfall, 137 in incidents of lightning, while 4078 families were affected and 487 houses damaged.
A compensation worth Rs 1.98 crore was distributed and Rs 1.35 crore were given as additional help, Chaudhary said adding that as per existing norms, Rs 1.50 lakh are given in cases of death and around Rs 43,000 as help in cases of disability.

To supplementaries on hiking the compensation, Chaudhary said that a letter in this regard seeking the Centre's help, will be sent soon.