State fail to secure more funds from Centre: Chiru

Tenali, Oct 12: The widespread losses and misery brought about by unprecedented rain fury in Andhra Pradesh have failed to move the Central government which has been parsimonious in its offer of aid to the state, alleged actor-turned-politician and Praja Rajyam Party President K Chiranjeevi.Talking to media persons here after inspecting flood ravaged areas in Guntur district, the PRP chief said that as against the state government’s request for Rs 12,225 crore for relief and rehabilitation work it has parted with only a meagre sum of Rs 1000 crore advance central assistance for relief operations.He said that the amount released by the Centre is routine aid which does not take into consideration the extraordinary situation in the state.

The rain havoc in the state is among the worst natural devastations experienced by the state in its history and is a serious calamity of national scale.About 65 people have lost their lives and the lives of millions of people have been shattered in 6 districts of Tungabhadra and Krishna river basin.Houses, standing crops, cattle, poultry, communication and infrastructure facilities and means of livelihood have been lost and it will take Herculean efforts, thousands of crores of relief aid and many months to bring the lives of the affected people back on track, he pointed out.The damage is estimated to be of the order of above Rs 15,000 crore. The amount released by the Centre is not enough to meet the requirements of even a few villages, he explained.