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Mumbai , Aug 18

THE Maharashtra Government has sent an interim report to the Union Government seeking a package of Rs 8,576 crore in view of the floods.

In addition, it is also seeking Rs 2,400 crore for Mumbai city, said the Chief Minister, Mr Vilasrao Deshmukh, while briefing the media after the weekly Cabinet meeting on Thursday.

The State Government had also sent a memorandum to the Union Government seeking help from the National Disaster Relief Fund to rebuild houses and infrastructure. A Central team would be arriving here on August 21 to take stock of the situation, he said.

Of the Rs 2,400 crore Central assistance sought for Mumbai, Rs 1,200 crore is for revamping the drainage system of the city and Rs 1,200 crore for cleaning of the Mithi river, the Chief Minster said.

Mr Deshmukh also informed that Rs 250 crore has been disbursed as cash relief to the flood affected. They have also received 95,000 quintals of rice and 62,000 quintals of wheat as foodgrain relief, he said.

The State Government also has urged the Karnataka Government to maintain the water level of the Almatti Dam at 509 metres until the Krishna Water Tribunal gives its decision. The current water level of the dam is 515 metres, the Chief Minister said.

The State has already approached the Krishna Water Tribunal over the release of water from Almatti as the backwater from the dam had inundated huge areas in Sangli and Kolhapur districts of Maharashtra.

He added that a fact-finding team has also been constituted, which look into the causes of flooding in Mumbai city. The team would consist of water experts Mr Madhavrao Chitale, city planner Mr Shirish Patel and environmental engineer Dr Shyam Asolekar, he said.

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