Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Vishakapatnam as soon as the Hudhud Cyclone struck. The Prime Minister announced a adhoc assistance of 1000 Crore for the relief and rehabilitation works. But then, while the damage ran in to 1000s of Crores, the Center did not even give half of the adhoc assistance promised to the state.
In the wake of the recent rains, the state government is estimating the losses to various sectors were of the order of Rs 1,142crore. The state government requested the Center for an immediate release of Rs 300 crore as advance allocation from the National Disaster Response Fund in view of the poor financial position of the state.
Also there is a negative balance in the state disaster response fund (SDRF) account for the last three to four years due to back to back natural calamities. But then, we are told that the center refused to release any help to the state saying that Damage assessment is yet to begin. The reply came as a rude shock to the state government.
