Kurnool, October 09: After inspecting Tungabhadra Canal, Panyam and Kurnool, Minister of State for Railways KH Muniyappa assured that Union Government is ready to release funds for relief and rehabilitation operations in the floodaffected areas.
The minister visited the above areas here today for a first-hand information of the havoc caused by the floods and to inspect the repair of the damaged railway line between Panyam and Nandyal “ Restoration of railway lines work worth Rs 10 crore is taking place. The officials have estimated that for complete restoration a total of Rs 25 crore is needed, which would be provided at the earliest,’’ Muniyappa told reporters.
He also informed that the Central Government has released Rs 210 crore out of the Rs 410-crore promised fund from the calamity reserve and the remaining Rs 200 crore would be released shortly. The minister said that Central committee is studying and assessing the loss due to the floods and would submit a detailed report to the Central Government in a few days.
Informing that the Indian Railways is committed to involve in relief operations, Muniyappa said.
“We have stationed 10 parcel vans at Hyderabad and five at Vijayawada railway station for relief operations.
Whoever wants to send relief material to the flood-affected areas can approach the respective district collector and send the same across free-ofcost.’’ After his visit to the flood-affected areas, the minister expressed that the floods were unexpected and nothing of this magnitude has happened in the last 50 years.
Senior officials of the South Central Railway accompanied the minister.
–Agencies–