“The Centre has to follow certain procedures before making funds available. Appraisal teams will be sent to ascertain the extent of damage only after the estimates are submitted by the State government. Money will be released from National Calamity Contingency Fund based on the recommendations of these teams,” he said at a press meet here on Monday.

The minister said that the Union and State governments stand united on issues such as calamity and natural disasters. “It is the duty of the central government to make help available and we will not make a distinction between states ruled by the Congress and BJP.”  However, he was non-committal on the duration required for sanctioning of the Central assistance and the CM’s demand for declaring the flood as natural calamity.
Meanwhile, sources confirmed that aerial survey of flood-affected areas by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh scheduled on Tuesday has been postponed.