State told to draw money from calamity funds

Hyderabad, Oct 6: The Union Home Minister, Mr P Chidambaram, on Tuesday advised the Andhra Pradesh Government to draw the funds from the Calamity Relief Fund (CRF) to meet the exigencies arising out of the grim flood situation in the State.Mr Chidambaram, who visited the State along with the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Chairperson, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, and conducted the aerial survey of the flood ravaged areas, admitted that the flood caused heavy devastation in the State. He told the State Government to draw the funds from the Calamity Relief Fund (CRF) and make use of the money to meet the requirements for providing relief to the flood-affected.Sources here said that the Union Home Minister has briefed the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, on the flood fury in Andhra Pradesh.

“The suggestion to draw the funds from the CRF has come only after that,” the sources explained.  Mr Chidambaram suggested that after 75 pr cent of the CRF is exhausted, the Centre will allow the State Government to draw funds from the National Calamity Contingency Fund (NCCF), the sources said adding that the Union Home Minister has even offered to make some advance payments from the NCCF, if need be.The sources here observed that these measures are taken to meet the immediate requirements of the State. “The Union Finance Minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, who is currently on a foreign tour, is returning on Wednesday.

The full assistance will be announced after Mr Mukherjee’s return from the foreign trip,” the sources maintained.The Central teams will be visiting the State soon to assess the damage. However, the teams will be coming here only after the flood situation improves, the sources maintained.