The Hindu : National : Bihar floods: Raghuvansh Prasad criticises government

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Sep 18, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

National

National

Bihar floods: Raghuvansh Prasad criticises government

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Union Rural Development Minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh on Wednesday criticised the Bihar government for failing to plug the breach in the Kosi river that caused devastating floods in the State earlier this month.

Briefing reporters on the achievements of his Ministry in the past four and half years, Mr. Singh said the Centre was ready to give the money for plugging the breach but it was ultimately for the State government to carry out the work. However, he added that in this case the External Affairs Ministry, too, had to be involved as it concerned two countries.

Dismissing the remarks of S.C. Jha — who is heading the Planning Commission’s Special Task Force on Bihar — that there was lack of coordination between the State and Centre, Mr. Singh said not much credence should be given to Mr. Jha .

The Minister said the Centre had given more than what the State government had demanded after the unprecedented floods but the administration was still unable to cope with the situation. “We have given 1.25 lakh tonnes of food grain but the government is picking up only 1.25 tonnes daily. At this rate, nothing will ever reach the people,” he added.

Kandhamal

On the violence in Kandhamal, Mr. Raghuvansh Prasad Singh said he had asked the authorities to send the list of the people who had lost their homes in the communal riots so that the Ministry could provide them money for reconstruction under the Indira Awas Yojana .

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National