Centre has released Rs 3,454 crore for drought relief in Karnataka, says Chief minister Siddaramaiah
The Congress leader, however, said that the amount was not enough for the state’s needs and that his government would continue to fight for arrears.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday said that the Centre has approved Rs 3,498.9 crore as drought relief for the state, of which Rs 3,454 crore has been released, reported PTI. The chief minister urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to release the balance amount of Rs 45 crore.
The Congress leader thanked the Supreme Court for directing the Centre to release the funds, but told reporters that the amount was not sufficient for the state’s needs.
The state was supposed to be given Rs 18,171 crore according to the National Disaster Response Fund rules. “But the Centre has only approved Rs 3,498.98 crore,” Siddaramaiah said. “This money is not sufficient for the drought relief. Our fight for the arrears will continue.”
On March 23, the Karnataka government had filed a petition in the top court alleging that the Centre had not extended financial assistance for drought management to the state government.
On Monday, the Centre told the Supreme Court that the Election Commission has allowed it to release the funds and that it would do so within a week. Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman had earlier admitted that there was a delay in releasing drought relief funds to the state on account of the Model Code of Conduct being in place due to the Lok...
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