Centre announces Rs 250 cr aid for Karnataka

The Centre has announced a Rs 250 crore financial aid for Karnataka to take up drought and flood relief works on a priority basis.

Union home minister Shivaraj Patil, who undertook an aerial survey of the affected regions in the state on Wednesday, told reporters that the financial aid would be released immediately to take up relief work.

"More than the floods, it is drought that is ravaging the state. I will hold discussions with Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar to release foodgrain stocks to Karnataka to be distributed in the affected areas," he added.

The home minister's visit to Karnataka comes just a week after the state sought President A P J Abdul Kalam's intervention in securing aid from the Centre.

As many as 18 districts in the state are experiencing drought and overall the state is experiencing a deficit rainfall of 28 per cent. Another six districts were hit by floods following the discharge of surplus water from reservoirs in Maharashtra.

The damage caused to property and crops by the floods is estimated around Rs 1,406 crore. The government has sought a Rs 500 crore aid from the Centre.

However, Patil replied in the negative when asked if additional aid will be released to the state.

"Instead of seeking financial aid every year, the state should come out with a comprehensive plan to mitigate drought and to control flooding. We will take up the master plan for implementation through the Planning Commission. The Centre is in favour of a permanent solution to lessen the impact of the twin natural calamities," the minister stated.

Karnataka chief minister H D Kumaraswamy said that the government will abide by the Centre's suggestion.

"We will prepare a detailed plan at the earliest and forward it to the Centre for financial aid. The state government too wants to find a permanent solution to the ill effects drought and floods," he said.