The Centre has, in advance, released its second instalment of the Calamity Relief Fund (CRF) for the year 2009-10, amounting to Rs 156.84 crore for Andhra Pradesh and Rs 52.26 crore for Karnataka.

The money released by the Centre is routine aid available to Karnataka under the CRF. By its miserly, bureaucratic approach, the Centre, in the words of some state party leaders, “failed to rise to the occasion” when faced with an “extraordinary situation.”

The total Central contribution comprising Rs 313.67 crore and Rs 104.52 crore for Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka respectively for the current year “stands released as on date,” said the Home Ministry.

As against the Centre’s stated help to the two states, the BJP on Wednesday asked the Centre to sanction Rs 20,000 crore from the CRF.  BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu who described the Central aid as inadequate also sought the PM to visit the two states claiming people were “disappointed” on this account.