Central team to visit flood-hit states

The home minister assured the state governments that availability of funds would not be a constraint and the Central government would offer full assistance to provide  relief and rehabilitation.

Further relief package would be decided once Finance Minister Pranab  Mukherjee returns from his foreign tour on Wednesday, he added.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday sanctioned an ex-gratia relief of Rs one lakh to the next of the kin of those killed in floods in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Goa.

Chidambaram, who on Monday visited Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, said after consulting the prime minister, he had advised the chief ministers of both the states to take “interim measures” to continue relief and rescue operations.

The interim measures included immediate utilisation of  the Calamity Relief Fund (CRF). Once it is exhausted upto 75 per cent , the state governments may draw on the  National Calamity Contingency Fund (NCCF). “Advances from NCCF will be provided”, Chidambaram said.

Chidambaram visited Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka alongwith UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and chief ministers of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka K Rosaiah and  B S Yeddyurappa.

Meanwhile, Union Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrasekhar on Tuesday presided a high level meeting to review the flood situation.