State may notget flood compensation

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, SEPT. 27. The State is unlikely to get any flood compensation both in the short and long term in view of the changes made in the norms relating to extending relief in the event of natural calamities.

But the State Government has strongly registered its protest, especially since the amendments to the rules had been made after it had submitted its memorandum on the July floods, seeking an assistance of Rs. 552 crores.

The Revenue Minister, Mr. K.M. Mani, who returned from New Delhi after holding discussions with Central Government representatives, said that there was no justification in the amendment which would go against the interests of the States.

In the case of Kerala, the amendment has been made after it submitted its memorandum for compensation on July 21. Besides, the Centre had not given any clue that the norms were being amended in its communications as late as the first week of September. The State Government had demanded that its memorandum be favourably considered without taking into account the amendment in the norms which would affect agriculture, irrigation and road infrastructure.

He said that previously, the Centre used to consider compensation on the extent of loss and damage in terms of acreage and restoration of roads to the pre-flood situation. In the case of agriculture, the amendment had restricted compensation for input subsidy like fertilizer, seeds etc. incurred by the small and medium farmers. In the case of roads, the amendment had restricted compensation for carrying out emergency and temporary work. The State had estimated a loss of Rs. 150 crores each in the case of agriculture and roads, including village roads.

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Section  : Southern States
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