Date:30/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/30/stories/2008083058610100.htm

New Delhi

Centre steps up Bihar flood relief work

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: A day after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi made an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas in Bihar, the Centre on Friday moved its machinery into top gear to provide all possible assistance to the State government grappling with a grim flood situation.

The Centre deployed four Army columns, five helicopters, 118 Boats and 624 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel. The Union Home Ministry said four more Army columns were being deployed. As much as 1.25 lakh tonnes of food grains has been allocated to the State. The Home Ministry spokesman said 3,732 tents and one lakh water bottles were sent to Bihar since Thursday. More tents and boats were being organised by the government.

The Health Ministry is organising supply of two crore halogen tablets. The National Crisis Management Committee, headed by the Cabinet Secretary, reviewed the flood situation in Bihar.

Relief Commissioners of West Bengal, Jharkhand and Orissa have instructed the magistrates of the districts neighbouring Bihar to provide boats as per the requirement of the State government.

As announced by the Prime Minister, Rs. 1000 crore from the National Calamity Contingency Fund was released by the Centre.

The Ministry of Railways has issued sanction for transportation of relief material/fodder by rail from any station to notified flood-affected districts of Bihar for distribution in the affected areas.

Officers of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Control Room of the Ministry are in constant touch with the State government and monitoring the situation round the clock. Meanwhile, Congress spokesperson M. Shakeel Ahmed said the party was fully with the people of Bihar in this hour of crisis and efforts were being made to provide relief and succour.