State to seek Rs. 300-cr. Central aid

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, AUG. 25. The Government has prepared a memorandum, "demanding" a Rs. 300-crore Central assistance to compensate for the loss suffered by the State in different sectors under the present floods.

The Chief Minister, Mr. N. Chandrababu Naidu, told the press after a videoconference with the Collectors of 15 affected districts, that this figure was finalised for the preliminary report, pending assessment of the crop loss for which a pucca enumeration was not immediately possible as the fields were water-logged. It would be submitted to the Central team coming to the city tomorrow. There was chance for paddy to survive even if the tips of the plants were above the water for six days. The final report would be presented at later stage. He had already spoken to the Prime Minister and the Central Relief Commissioner.

During the videoconference attended by the Chief Secretary, Mr. P.V. Rao, the Commissioner for Relief, Mr. P. Bhaskar Prasad, and secretaries of departments concerned, the Chief Minister corrected his earlier statements and clarified that the affected families could be given each Rs. 500 for utensils and clothes and not Rs. 200 as under the old GO. But old GOs could be followed for paying compensation for crop loss. For sandcasting which took place in about 3,500 acres in Nalgonda district, Rs 2,500 could be given per a hectare subject to a maximum of Rs 5,000. The Collectors were told to disburse relief-- 20 kg rice, five litres of kerosene and money for utensils and clothes-- to all regardless of whether they belonged to below-poverty-line category or otherwise, but restrict the compensation for house damage only to BPL families.

In case of deaths, the Chief Minister pointed out where the Apathbandu scheme, under which ex gratia was being given, did not apply, the amounts could be paid out of the Chief Minister's Relief Fund at the rate of Rs. 1 lakh for adults and Rs. 50,000 for children. As per rules, ex gratia was applicable to both wife and husband if both of them died in a family.

With regard to the breach to the national highway near Chilakaluripet, connecting Vijayawada and Chennai, he gave strict instruction to the Guntur Collector and the contractor concerned to complete the work throughout the night this night and make it ready for traffic by tomorrow morning.

About housing, Mr A. Krishna Murthy, General Manager, Andhra Bank, and convener, State Level Bankers' Committee, gave a commitment to the Chief Minister that the banks would extend loans to the tune of Rs. 50,000 at 12-12.5 per cent interest payable for a period from 26 to 60 months.

On the irrigation front, he asked the Collectors of Karimnagar, Nizamabad, Warangal and Khammam to be on high alert as the discharge from Sriramsagar Project was increased to 5 lakh cusecs.

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Section  : Southern States
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