Date:21/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/21/stories/2008032155420100.htm

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Centre urged to send team to State

Special Correspondent

Mullakkara Ratnakaran puts the total loss at Rs.68 crore

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan and Agriculture Minister Mullakkara Ratnakaran have urged the Centre to send a special team to assess damage from heavy rain in the State during this summer.

In a fax message to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the Chief Minister said the State had suffered losses exceeding Rs.50 core in the rain and winds during the past one week. Paddy in about 8,100 hectares, which was ready for harvest, had been destroyed. Noting that the losses were likely to go up, the Chief Minister said that four people had died in the calamity. Paddy and other crops were destroyed in Kuttanad, Thrissur and northern districts.

The State government had sanctioned Rs.12 crore for relief. Under these circumstances, the Centre should take steps to provide maximum assistance to the State.

Mr. Ratnakaran sent similar messages to the Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and Home Minister Shivraj Patil. Mr. Ratnakaran said that Kerala had suffered a total loss of Rs.68 crore.