Centre will give Rs 300 cr to flood-hit N Karnataka

The Centre has announced a special package of Rs 300 crore from the Prime Minister's Relief Fund for flood relief work in northern parts of Karnataka.

Union minister for agriculture Sharad Pawar announced the package at a press conference in Belgaum on Tuesday.

He said in addition to the package amount the steps would be taken to sanction a loan upto Rs 50,000 each for the flood victims at zero percent interest.

Pawar announced that the loans of farmers will be rescheduled in the wake of the natural calamity. The short term loans would be converted into medium-term loans and the medium into long term loans.

Pawar said that the Centre was committed to providing Karnataka all necessary help. When asked why the Centre was discriminating between Karnataka and Maharastra while granting relief, Pawar said it depended on the gravity of the situation.

Union minister for planning Rajashekharan, chief minister Dharam Singh, deputy chief minister M P Prakash, state law minister H K Patil and KPCC president Mallikarjun Kharge among others were present.

The scheduled visit by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to the flood-affected areas in Belgaum district was cancelled due to the inclement weather. The PM was to arrive from Goa on Tuesday morning and make an aerial survey of the flood affected areas.