WB to sanction Rs 6,000cr for flood-hit

Jan. 21: Responding to the havoc caused by floods in five districts of the state during October last year, the World Bank has agreed to sanction Rs 6,000 crores as aid through external funding agency, and sought proposals from the state government.

The state government had submitted a report to the Central flood damage asse-ssment team that a loss of Rs 6,000 crores occurred in the district. According to unofficial figures, the damage will be around Rs 12,000 crores in the district.

People are dissatisfied wi-th the help provided to flood victims by the Central and the state governments.

It is learnt that only Rs 500 crores aid was released by the Central government, though the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, had declared the flood havoc in the district to be a national calamity.

Officials disclosed that the state government had sent proposals to the World Bank to provide assistance for flood victims after taking permission from the Prime Minister.

The World Bank has reportedly agreed to sanction Rs 6,000 crores if the state government furnishes complete details of flood damage in the five districts. The district officials had sent a report to the World Bank through the state government seeking Rs 2,600 crores aid.

Speaking to this newspaper, the district additional joint collector, Laxmikantam said that the government is proposing to give compensatory land to farmers, in lieu of their damaged land, if the World Bank releases flood aid. He said that World Bank representatives would visit Kurnool district within three months.