Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP) 

Udupi, Sep 22: Union minister for chemicals and fertilizers, D V Sadananda Gowda, assured that the central government's grant for meeting natural calamity that devastated parts of Karnataka would be released in about a month. He was speaking to a Kannada daily on Saturday September 21. 

On the issue of flood relief, he said that eight states have suffered unprecedented loss due to excessive rainfall and flood this time. He said Rs 380 crore has been released immediately to the state to meet expenses with protecting people and setting up relief centres. He said that house construction, setting up of industries and building will happen after the rains stop, and that funds for these purposes will be released in a month. He recollected that even in the past, central governments took over a month for releasing grants. 

On the issue of central team not inspecting loss in Beltangady taluk, he clarified that on the day his visit was scheduled, the MLA was busy. Hence, he had got report of losses, duly adding that relief works are going on in that taluk properly 

Gowda said that setting up of separate railway division at Mangaluru is not possible as it is enclosed on both sides by Palakkad division and Konkan railway. He said that steps will be taken to open zonal office of Konkan Railway Corporation a Mangaluru duly vested with higher powers to tackle issues.