Accusing The Modi Govt Of Turning Its Back On The Flood Ravaged State, Kerala MP Approaches SC
The petition challenges the central government’s ‘unwritten policy’ under which India does not accept foreign aid towards disaster relief.
Binoy Viswam, Rajya Sabha member and former Kerala minister moved Supreme court on Saturday, accusing the central government of ‘turning its back’ on Kerala’s flood affected people.
He said that the Narendra Modi government hasn’t sanctioned sufficient funds nor has it allowed foreign countries like the UAE,Qatar and Thailand to help rebuild the state.
The petition challenges the central government’s ‘unwritten policy’ under which India does not accept foreign aid towards disaster relief, reported The Hindu.
The petition stated that the policy violates the fundamental rights of the people of Kerala. Kerala has lost around 10,000 km of road network and suffered property losses of ₹20,000 crore. Following protests, the Centre release ₹500 crore when a second request for ₹2000 crore was made.
The state government requested ₹1200 crore for restoration and rehabilitation work but only ₹100 crore was released by the central government.
The insufficiency of funds is preventing the rehabilitation of affected people. Help has been offered by the United Nations but the central government is not allowing that either.
Viswam said, “But the funds received as on date are not enough to carry on the rehabilitation work and to rebuild Kerala… It is estimated that Kerala will take many years to be back into the path of glory again.”