State to seek Central aid for flood relief

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, JULY 11. The Chief Minister, Mr. A. K. Antony, said here on Wednesday that the State Government would urge the Centre to provide ample assistance for flood relief in the State.

The Chief Minister told presspersons after a Cabinet meeting that it had decided to send the Secretary (Revenue and Housing) to Delhi with a request for urgent assistance. A ministerial delegation would then visit Delhi with a detailed memorandum.

Mr. Antony urged the people in Kerala and outside to contribute liberally to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund which, he said, was empty now. The losses caused by the heavy rain and floods were of such magnitude that the State alone would not be able to cope with the needed relief measures. The Chief Minister said that 1,352 villages in the State had been affected by the heavy rain, landslips and flooding. So far, 80 people had died in monsoon- related calamities. As many as 94 persons had been injured and 23 persons were missing.

About 720 houses had been destroyed and 8,639 houses were damaged. The district authorities had opened 428 relief camps until Tuesday. More camps would be opened today in Alappuzha district where the water level was rising.

Mr. Antony said there was widespread damage to crops, roads and power lines. The losses were being estimated. Farmers, farm workers, fishermen and tribals in many areas were in misery. The Government had directed the district authorities to provide free rations wherever needed.

The Cabinet, he said, had decided to allocate an additional 50 lakhs to each district for relief work. This was in addition to the Rs. 50 lakhs released earlier for each district. In view of the treasury restrictions, special funds had been sanctioned to purchase petrol and diesel by the district administration. Aid was being rushed to the victims of the calamities in the form of cash and food.

He said the Cabinet had condoled the death of Chief Photographer of Malayala Manorama Mr. Victor George, who was swept away while trying to capture the details of the havoc for dissemination to the public in an adventurous manner. It also thanked the people and Government agencies, including the army and navy, who are engaged in relief operations.

Allegations about extravagant spending by the Tourism Department would be examined. The collapse of a wall of the memorial of the Golden Jubilee of Independence within a year of completion would be probed, he said.

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Section  : Southern States
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