.............all the politica leaders of bihar including CM have been demanding huge money for reconstruction and relief so that..........they could all gobble it up......... Usual story.........
On 9/11/08, Dr.V.N. Sharma <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > *Bihar CM to call for special flood relief package* > > *Patna: *Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday said he would demand > a special package from the central government for the flood-ravaged state to > enable rehabilitation and reconstruction once the floodwaters recede. > > "I have sought an appointment with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh after > Thursday to meet him and formally put forth a demand for a special package > for rehabilitation and reconstruction in flood-affected districts," Kumar > said. > > He said that the task of rehabilitation and reconstruction was a huge one. > > "It is not possible for the state government to carry out rehabilitation and > reconstruction on its own in view of the huge task caused by devastation. We > strongly feel that Bihar needs a special package from the central > government," the Chief Minister said. > > The floods had damaged standing crops, roads, bridges, houses and whatever > came in its way, reports IANS quoting Kumar. > > Over 2.8 million people and nearly one million cattle have been affected by > the floods caused by the change in course of the Kosi river, following a > breach in an embankment upstream in Nepal. About one lakh hectares of > farmland have been submerged and nearly three lakh houses damaged. > > Last month, the Prime Minister had termed the Bihar floods as a national > calamity and announced the immediate release of Rs 1,000 crore as relief for > the state. > > He also announced the immediate release of 1.25 lakh metric tonnes of > foodgrains for the affected people. > > About 9.71 lakh people have been evacuated to safer places in the flood-hit > areas till date. Around 2.79 lakh people have taken shelter in over 300 > relief camps in flood-affected areas, officials said. > > According to the water resources department, the Kosi river continued to > recede. But it still poses a threat to the lives of the trapped people. > > The floods have claimed at least 50 lives, according to official estimates. > However, voluntary agencies fear the number could be in several hundreds. >
