Centre To Extend More Aid To Kerala Once Full Estimate Is Done: Arun Jaitley
Mumbai: On Wednesday, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said that the Union government would extend further aid to Kerala to renovate flood-affected people once the damage is all clear.
Approaching the conclave ‘India for Kerala’ in Thiruvananthapuram, organized by the Times Network in association with the Times Foundation, via video message, he said the Centre’s focus for the state was two-pronged.
“While carrying out relief activities, we are also focusing on the emergence of a new Kerala,” he said.
He added saying that the insurance companies have been directed to resolve claims where the banks have asked to give loans so that people can get “a breathing space in rebuilding their lives.
“Further aid from the Central government will be given once the full estimate of the damage is done.
I am sure we will see the quality of life for the Keralites reinstated”, Jaitley said.
Kerala has asked for a special package and said that loss and damage could be much more than its investment of Rs 37,272.90 crore for 2018-19.
Establishing the event, governor P Sathasivam said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had to illuminate him that the Rs 600 crore released by the Centre in addition to the Rs 562.45 crore already made available to the State Disaster Response Fund was only advance aid.
The Prime Minister has also said that the additional funds would be released from the National Disaster Response Funds as per the laid down procedure, he said.
MP Shashi Tharoor said, Kerala needed more financial support and help to rebuild the state.
According to reports of Rs 700 crore UAE help to the state, he said ‘I would like to clarify that there are far richer countries than India which has accepted such aid’.
He said there was a written policy of the Modi government in 2016, addressing that India could accept aid offered by the foreign country, bt may not appeal for it.
Kerala could host a ‘Rebuild Kerala Conference’ to raise money and help in grants, loans or charity, he said.
“But for that, we need a credible assessment and hence I suggest we seek help from international agencies like UN in studying the destruction caused, based on which we can arrange conclaves in creating a new Kerala’, he added.
Even the state Finance Minister T M Thomas Issac said an amount of Rs 30,000 crore was the need of the hour to expand and rebuild roads and infrastructure.
The government had announced a relief of Rs four lakh each to the kin of those killed and Rs 10 lakh each to those who had lost their land and houses in the murderous monsoon that left a huge trail of destruction and claimed 491 lives since May 29.
Air Marshal Suresh, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Southern Air Command, Maj Gen Sanjeev Narain-General Officer Commanding, Karnataka and Kerala Sub Area, Vijay Sakhare, IG Ernakulum Range, Rajamanickam, Commissioner Food Safety were felicitated to recognise their contribution in rescue and relief operations.
