TS to send 500 tonnes of rice to flood-hit Kerala

Chief Minister directs Civil Supplies Minister to take immediate steps

HYDERABAD. 02/01/2011:- Telangana Rashtra Samithi chief K Chandrasekhara Rao showing a copy of letter written to Union Home Minister P. Chidamabaram that his party decided to boycotting 'all-party meeting' compassing eight recognized political parties of Andhra Pradesh convened on January 6 in New Delhi to discuss on the Srikrishna committee report, during packed news conference held at Telangana Bhavan in Hyderabad on Sunday. -.Photo:Mohammed_Yousuf

Continuing its assistance to Kerala, the Telangana government has decided to despatch 500 tonnes of rice to the flood-hit State as part of extending support to the affected families.

Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has directed the Finance and Civil Supplies Minister Eatala Rajender to take steps to despatch the required quantity of rice to the rain-battered State at the earliest.

The Minister spoke to Civil Supplies Commissioner Akun Sabharwal and directed him to ensure despatch of the rice with immediate effect so that it could help provide food to the affected families.

The assistance follows ₹25 crore cash support, 50 reverse osmosis plants for supply of safe drinking water and supply of 100 tonne Balamrutam, baby food for children below three years manufactured by the Telangana Foods, that reached Kerala on Saturday. Meanwhile, donations continued to pour in to the Kerala government for taking up relief operations.

The Telangana IAS Officers Association decided to donate one day’s salary of the serving officers to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund of the Kerala government while the Telangana Gazetted Officers’ Association had handed over cheque of ₹10 crore to Chief Secretary S.K. Joshi as their contribution for relief and rehabilitation of the affected families.

Minister Jupally Krishna Rao announced his resolve to donate a month’s salary for relief works. In addition to that, the deputy collectors’ association have donated a day’s salary of all the special grade deputy collectors and deputy collectors.

Kerala CM thanks KCR

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has thanked his Telangana counterpart K. Chandrasekhar Rao and expressed gratitude on behalf of people of his State for extending ₹25 crore for relief and rehabilitation measures in flood-affected areas.

In a letter to Mr. Rao, Mr. Vijayan said the overwhelming response from Telangana and other States demonstrated the extent of compassion that people show to each other in the hour of crisis. “It makes us proud of being part of Indian ethos and spirit,” he said.