Flood: Centre says it will provide all possible assistance to Karnataka

Centre will extend all necessary assistance to the Karnataka government for meeting the situation caused by heavy rains and floods, Home Minister Shivraj Patil said in Lok Sabha on Monday.

Responding to a calling attention motion by Bharatiya Janata Party members Ananth Kumar and S Mallikarjunaiah, he said the Home Ministry was in constant touch with the state government in this regard.

"I would like to assure the august house that the government of India will extend all necessary assistance to the government of Karnataka for meeting the situation caused by heavy rains and floods," he said. This also covered coastal and other affected areas, he said adding.

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The minister, however, rejected the BJP demand of changing guidelines of the Calamity Relief Fund. He deprecated statements made by opposition leaders, which could needlessly create a scare in the affected areas.

On apprehensions over the "breach" of the Koyna dam in Maharashtra inundating vast areas in Karnataka, Patil said this was not true responding to Ananth Kumar who said there were fears of an "artificial tsunami" if the Koyna dam gave way.

The BJP member said the centre should make available Rs 3272 crore relief to Karnataka and out of this, Rs1500 crore should be released immediately and distributed to those affected, he said.