PC denies raw deal for State

Replying to discussions on “natural calamities” in the Lok Sabha, the minister said the Centre had received the utilisation certificate for flood relief funds from the Karnataka. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had announced a relief of Rs 1000 crore during his visit to the flood-hit areas in the State, and that the Centre had released Rs 500 crore as the first installment. The State has so far spent Rs 1007 crore for flood relief, he added. “For us, all are same, be it Karnataka or AP or Biharis or Marathis. There is no discrimination. The government will not evade its responsibility,” he remarked.

He said that the Central team that toured Karnataka to assess the flood damage had submitted its report. “This report will be placed before the high level committee and the empowered group of ministers before a decision is taken.” According to him, as on September 30, Karnataka’s opening balance in the calamity relief fund was Rs 6,103 crore.

As of now, the State’s balance is Rs 7,964 crore. He noted that Karnataka would get $64 million for water body restoration.