CM seeks Rs 2,145 Cr assistance for cyclone relief

Hyderabad, Nov 21 : Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy has requested the Government of India to release the amount of Rs.2145 Crores central assistance as assured by the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh.

Of the Rs 2,145 Crores assistance, Rs 1,000 Crores is of temporary assistance and the remaining Rs 1,145 Crores pertains to arrears. It may be recalled the Prime Minister had announced and assured all help to the State Government, at the recent meeting on cyclone damages at Delhi.

The Chief Minister also requested the Government of India to enhance the input subsidy from Rs 6,000 to Rs 10,000 per hectare as the Government of Andhra Pradesh is already distributing Rs 10,000 per Ha to the farmers. He also enhanced the compensation of Rs 150 per damaged coconut tree in the recent Philian cyclone to Rs 500. He requested the Central Government for necessary changes in the Crop Insurance for maximum benefit to the farmer.

The Central Team under the leadership of Shambhu Singh, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, which visited seven cyclone, heavy rain-affected districts for the last three days, called on the Chief Minister here at Secretariat, this afternoon. Revenue Minister Dr N.Raghuveera Reddy, Chief Secretary Dr P.K.Mohanty, Disaster Management Commissioner C.Parthasarathy and other senior officials were present.

The Chief Minister said that due to severe cyclone and heavy rains, the State Government distributed Rs 5,000 Crores to the farmers, but only 25 per cent of assistance is being received from the Government of India. The State Government has enhanced the input subsidy from Rs 1500 to Rs 4,000, Rs.4,000 to Rs 6,000 and Rs 6,000 to Rs 10,000. First of its kind in the country, input subsidy is being credited directly to Farmers bank accounts and last year an amount of Rs 1,800 crore was released for this purpose. Interest-free crop loans to about one crore farmers are being given and this year State Government has paid Rs 450 crores towards interest to the banks on behalf of farmers. Rs 72,000 crores of agricultural loans are being given this year, in which Rs 52,000 crores are crop loans.

Rs 7 lakh crores are being given as agricultural loans all over the country this year, the Chief Minister added. He has also stated that all efforts are being made to help the Licensed cultivator and about 2 lakh cultivators are accessed to the bank accounts and getting the benefits from the State Government. The Chief Minister thanked the Central team for their positive attitude towards the damages and hoped larger assistance from the Government of India.

The Revenue Minister explained all the efforts made for rescue and relief measures during the cyclone and heavy rains and the assistance extended to the victims. INN