Rs 2,145 cr sought for AP cyclone relief

Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy on Thursday requested the Centre to immediately release a sum of Rs 2,145 crore, including the temporary assistance of Rs 1,000 crore promised by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, towards cyclone relief works.

The Chief Minister forwarded his request to a Central team led by Shambhu Singh, Joint Secretary to the Home Ministry, when he met him here on Thursday. Of the total amount requested, Rs 1145 crore was arrears from the Centre to the state, the Chief Minister said.

He also wanted the Centre to enhance input subsidy for crops to Rs 10,000 per hectare from Rs 6,000. The state government was already paying the enhanced amount to calamity-hit farmers, he said.

Reddy also requested the Centre to make necessary changes in the crop insurance scheme for providing maximum benefit to the farmers, a press release from the Chief Minister's Office said.

The Central team visited cyclone and heavy rain-affected districts in different regions of the state in the last three days to assess the extent of damages. It held a meeting with the Chief Minister, Revenue Minister N. Raghuveera Reddy, Chief Secretary P. K. Mohanty and other senior officials before winding up its tour.

The Chief Minister told the team that the state government distributed Rs 5,000 crore to calamity-hit farmers in the last couple of years but got only 25 per cent as Central assistance. He hoped the Centre will now enhance the financial assistance in view of the calamity's gravity.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister reviewed the threat posed by latest cyclonic storm Helen and directed the government machinery to constantly monitor the situation and be prepared to face any eventuality.

He wanted the district Collectors to shift people from vulnerable areas to safer places if required. The Revenue Minister also reviewed the situation with the district Collectors and Joint Collectors through a video-conference from the state Secretariat.