While chief ministers of both the Telugu states have been urging the Central government to declare present heavy rains and floods havoc in their respective states as `National Calamity, so that to extend more relief assistance, Union Minister G Kishan Reddy has ruled out such a possibility.
He made it clear that there is no practice of making such declarations wherever such natural disasters have taken place in the country. Moreover, he asked why it should be declared a national calamity when funds were being provided and assistance and cooperation was being extended by the central government.
He recalled that both the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister have assured two state chief ministers that the Center will stand by the Telugu states in times of present crisis. They personally spoke with two chief ministers and were already assisting in relief operations by sending additional NDRF teams, mechanic boats, helicopters and planes, he added.
He said that based on the report given by the state governments, central teams will visit states to estimate losses and the center will extend assistance accordingly. He said that Prime Minister Modi will visit affected areas, if needed. The Union Minister expressed regret that mainly in 11 districts of Telangana people are facing many problems due to rains and unfortunately some people have lost their lives.
Kishan Reddy said that due to rains and floods the loss of property and crop damage has been huge. He said that the Center has been reviewing the situation in AP and Telangana from time to time and the Prime Minister’s office has ordered the repair of the already damaged national highways.
The Union Minister called upon everyone to participate in relief efforts without criticizing anyone when natural calamities occur. He said that BJP workers are visiting the flooded areas of the state and providing food and drinking water to the affected people.
He said that the Telangana state government has a state disaster response fund of Rs.1345 crores and requested that the fund should be used to support the flood victims. Stating that the center is providing Rs 3 lakh ex gratia to the families of the deceased, he wondered whether the Chief Minister’s announcement of Rs 5 lakh included this amount also?
Moreover, he said that the center provides livelihood for the affected people under MGNREGA, compensation to cows and sheep. He asked the state government to take measures to prevent the spread of infections.