Call for special account for fund drive

Death toll would have been higher if military hadn’t helped: CM

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Congress-led UDF on Monday demanded that the fund collection initiated by the Kerala government following the devastating floods should go into a special account and not into the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF).

Addressing the media here after a meeting of UDF leaders, Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala said the need of the hour was to have a separate account for the funds that have started to come in to rebuild Kerala.

“The state government should set up a special account for rebuilding the state. We are demanding this because when Ockhi struck last year, Rs 104 crore was received and till now only Rs 25 crore has been utilized,” he said.

“Where has the rest of the money gone? We wish to know.”

Chennithala also said that soon after Ockhi struck, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced a slew of measures but many of the announcements continued to be only on paper.

“In the light of how Ockhi was managed, the government cannot afford to do a callous job this time. First Vijayan announced Rs 3,800 to be given to all those affected by floods, then it was raised to Rs 10,000.

“We demand everyone should get Rs 25,000,” he said.

So far more than Rs 500 crore has come into the CMDRF.

The United Democratic Front also demanded a judicial probe into opening of the dams’ sluice gates, saying this was the single major cause for his large scale damage to the state.

MILITARY HELP The death toll in the Kerala floods -would have been much higher but for the timely help provided by the military, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said.

The calamity would have been greater if the armed forces hadn’t worked hand in hand with the Kerala government, Vijayan said at a formal farewell function held here on Sunday in honour of Central forces which played a key role in rescue and relief operations.

“We could directly witness the bold initiatives they took to rescue those who were stranded in the flood waters,” said Vijayan at the function held at Air Force Station at Shanghumukham.

He appreciated the military and paramilitary forces who saved the helpless, braving adverse circumstances, an official statement said.

“All that we can say is that your services will be kept in mind in the times to come too, with gratitude and appreciation.”

The Chief Minister presented citations to Air Marshal B Suresh, Air Officer Commanding-in-chief of Southern Air Command and Rear Admiral R J Nadkarni, Chief of Staff, Southern Naval Command, among others.

Air Marshal Suresh said they could act efficiently because of the clear directions given by the Chief Minister. “He was leading from the front.”

The Air Marshal also appreciated the volunteers, fishermen and all those who were part of the rescue and relief activities and saluted the “indomitable spirit of Malayalis.”