PM announces Rs.500 crore flood aid for Uttarakhand
By IANSWednesday, September 22, 2010
NEW DELHI - Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Wednesday announced aid of Rs.500 crore for the flood-hit Uttarakhand and decided to send an inter-ministerial team to assess the damages.
The advance ad hoc assistance of Rs.500 crore would be in addition to funds given Tuesday from the State Disaster Response Fund.
An inter-ministerial Central team has been constituted for visiting the state to make an on-the-spot assessment of the damages, and will make its visit as soon as the state government is ready to receive it, the prime minister’s office said.
Based on the assessment of the central team, further assistance would be considered, said the PMO.
The aid was announced a day after ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi spoke to Manmohan Singh, requesting a liberal package for the state after conducting an aerial survey of the worst flood-affected areas of Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh.
Over 60 people have died and thousands were rendered homeless in the devastating floods in Uttarakhand.
The government of Uttarkhand has asked for over Rs.900 crore from the central government in its interim memorandum.
