No discrimination in flood relief to districts: Kerala Chief Minister's Office

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Chief Minister’s Office on Thursday termed baseless the charge that the government had shown discrimination in sanctioning money to the districts for distress relief.

The CMO called reports on social media an attempt to mislead the people and cause division. During June and July, the government had sanctioned Rs 63.05 crore in all for flood relief, the CMO said, giving a detailed break-up of the money sanctioned for each district.

However, the expenses for repairing roads did not come under this head. The detailed break-up trashes the allegation that northern districts were sanctioned more money than southern ones that were hit harder by the natural calamity, the CMO said.

What kicked up the row was a July 18 announcement by the government that Rs 113 crore was being declared for flood relief activities. The break-up showed that Malappuram was awarded Rs 26.37 crore, while Kottayam and Alappuzha — the worst-hit districts — were given only Rs 13.77 crore and Rs 10.31 crore.
On Thursday, the CMO justified this by saying that the sanctioned amount also accounted for expenses from previous years.

Expenditure, including that of roadworks, are accounted for as and when the bills are issued. Money spent this year, for instance, may account for works undertaken during the tenure of the UDF Government.
Money is sanctioned for relief activity during natural calamities on the recommendations submitted by the District Collectors. Dues from the past years are also included in the sanctioned amount, the CMO said.