Maharashtra announces Rs 20 crore immediate aid for flood-hit Kerala
The decision was taken in a high level meeting at Mantralaya on Saturday.
The state government on Saturday announced an immediate aid of ₹20 crore to flood-hit Kerala. It has also prepared to send 25,000 packets of assorted dry food and 10 tonnes of rusk, rice flakes and other items to the victims of one of the biggest natural calamities to have hit Kerala in recent times.
It has also requested for an Indian Air Force aircraft to send another round of relief material to the state, which includes biscuits, poha and other food materials, weighing up to 15 tonnes. The decision was taken in a high level meeting at Mantralaya on Saturday.
Announcing the ₹20-crore immediate assistance, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis also appealed to citizens to help the flood affected people in Kerala. “We are sending relief material demanded by Kerala. I am in contact with Kerala state administration. Currently, they only need food for flood victims. Based on their demand, we are sending some 10 tonnes of food material today [on Saturday] with the help of coast guards. This includes assorted dry foods, rusk, rice flakes, dry poha, chiwda, biscuits, rajgeera laddoo and toiletries,” said Medha Gadgil, additional chief secretary, state relief and rehabilitation department.
“The rest of the 15 tonnes of food material will be sent on Sunday, for which we have arranged an Air Force aircraft,” she said.
The Central and Western Railways have sent seven lakh litres of potable water to Kerala through a special train being operated from Pune to Kerala.
Meanwhile, several individuals and associations have also been contributing to the relief fund. State unit of the Congress announced that its 41 MLAs will donate their one month’s salary to the flood victims. Maharashtra State Gazetted Officers’ Confederation (MSGOC), a union of 1.5 lakh state government employees, decided to donate their one-day salary for the cause. GD Kulthe, chief advisor MSGOC, said one-day salary includes basic pay and grade pay, which comes to around ₹30 crore.
“MCHI-CREDAI is contributing food packets of ₹1.5 crore, Rajasthani Welfare Association & JITO International contributing ₹51 lakh each. Around 11 tonnes of dry food is also being arranged for Kerala so far,” tweeted CM Fadnavis. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) minister Ravindra Chavan and Shiv Sena MPs Shrikanth Shinde and Rahul Shewale also declared their contributions.