Andhra Assured Massive Central Aid

Union agriculture minister Chaturanan Mishra described the floods in Andhra Pradesh as a national calamity" and promised massive central assistance.

Mishra, who visited the flood affected districts yesterday, told reporters that the massive destruction caused by the floods could be tackled only through national efforts.

The magnitude of the calamity is such that the state alone will not be able to tackle it. It is a national calamity and relief and rehabilitation will have to be taken up at the national level. How to mobilise the required funds it is for us to consider," he said.

He said that the Centre will also have to decide the manner in which such situations should be tackled.

Since different ministries at the Centre are involved in the effort, there is need for some sort of coordination. He said he would be talking to his colleagues regarding this matter.

Mishra noted that the Prime Minister had already released Rs 50 crore towards relief. Once the memorandum from the state on the extent of damage was received, he would depute a central team to assess the loss after which the quantum of relief would be decided.

Apart from the ad hoc aid, Mishra said, an amount of Rs 125 crore was available to the state government for 1996-97 under the formula laid down by the tenth finance commission for tackling natural calamities.

As soon as the state sends us report on utilisation of funds on this count, we will consider further assistance," he said.

Mishra said that the AP unit of the Communist Party of India had written to him stating that in some villages the people did not have even a spare saree or dhoti as all their belongings were washed off in the floods.

As a small token, I am releasing Rs 6 lakh from the relief fund in my ministry towards helping them," he announced.

The minister said he was working out decentralisation of relief and rehabilitation during natural calamities so that states do not have to run to Delhi for relief. It was his personal view that once the crop was insured through a proper scheme, much of the suffering of the farmers will be mitigated.