Kerala Floods: Over 200 people have died in the floods since August 8
People in Kerala are facing an uphill task to rebuild their lives as flood waters that have killed hundreds of people and displaced lakhs start to recede. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan met people at relief camps in flood-affected areas. The flood-hit state has asked the centre to go by the 2016 National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP) while considering a Rs 700 crore offer made by the UAE government for the Kerala floods - said to be the worst in nearly a century. The National Disaster Management Plan, that was brought by the Centre in May 2016, states that any voluntary offer of assistance from other countries can be accepted.
India will not take help from foreign governments that are pledging financial assistance to the southern state, the foreign ministry said in a statement late on Tuesday. "In line with existing policy, the government of India is committed to meeting the requirements for relief and rehabilitation through domestic efforts," the foreign ministry said. "Contributions to PM relief fund and CM relief fund from NRIs, PIOs and international entities such as foundations would be welcome," it said.
Here are the Highlights on relief work in flood-hit Kerala:
Imran Khan, who took oath as Pakistan's 22nd prime minister last Saturday, tweeted this evening to say, "On behalf of the people of Pakistan, we send our prayers and best wishes to those who have been devastated by the floods in Kerala, India."
Lashing out at the Centre, CPI-M Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said on Thursday that clinging to rules that will deny aid from foreign countries to flood-hit Kerala is nothing but an act of vengeance by the centre, according to news agency IANS.
"This should be seen as a follow up to statements that have come from Sangh Parivar agencies asking people not to contribute to the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund," he told the media.
"Will appeal to the cabinet and ministers to have a change of policy on foreign aid," says KJ Alphons
KJ Alphons told NDTV that the foreign aid policy is an old one and that he will appeal to the cabinet and ministers to have a change of policy on foreign aid.
"Will Do Our Best To Ease Suffering": Pinarayi Vijayan
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday assured the people battered by floods that his government will do everything possible to help them start life anew, according to news agency IANS.
Taking off on a helicopter from the state capital along with a cabinet colleague and senior officials, Mr Vijayan first touched down at Chengannur and visited a relief camp. From there he went to camps in Pathanamthitta district and Alappuzha.
He flew later to Paravur in Ernakulam district and rounded off his visit at Chalakkudy in Thrissur district, the IANS report said.
Spending about 15 minutes in each camp, the chief minister briefly heard the woes of the people and assured them that they need not worry about anything as the government would come to their help.
The miseries and destruction caused by the rains and floods in Kerala would have been less severe if the government had taken the initiative to implement the recommendations made in the Gadgil Committee report on preservation of the Western Ghats, a noted environmentalist has said, according to a Press Trust of India report.
Ecologist Madhav Gadgil's report had suggested checks on quarrying, discouraging cultivation of yearly crops on hill slopes and planting fruit-bearing tress there and restriction on construction in the area, according to Prof VS Vijayan, a former chairman of the State Biodiversity Board.
"Climate change is a reality and heavy rainfall leading to floods witnessed in Kerala and droughts would occur in future also," Mr Vijayan, also a member of the committee, told PTI.
Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and other judges of the Delhi High Court have decided to contribute for the rehabilitation of the people in Kerala.
Besides the judges, the the Registry of the High Court would also contribute to the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF), Kerala.
Dr. Arun T, Deputy Commissioner/Collector, Kolasib District, Mizoram has started a social giving programme for the people of Kerala with the theme "Kolasib for Kerala". The initiative intends to provide all those items which people of Kerala require at this point of time.
According to estimates, 10,000 kilometres (6,000 miles) of roads have been destroyed or damaged, while estimates of the number of houses to be rebuilt vary from 20,000 to 50,000.
Many of the new arrivals in relief camps are people who have returned to their homes to find them uninhabitable.
Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and other judges of the Delhi High Court have decided to contribute for the rehabilitation of the people in Kerala.
Besides the judges, the the Registry of the High Court would also contribute to the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF), Kerala.
Earlier today, Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan visited relief camps in Chengannur, Kozhencherry, Alappuzha, North Paravoor and Chalakudy.
More than 1.3 million people have now packed into temporary camps even though the floods, which have left at least 200 dead, are fast receding.
The renowned Carmel School in Chalakudy has suffered five crore worth of losses. Old students, parents and teachers have come to the campus today to clean up the place.
Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has sanctioned Rs 5 Crores towards Kerala CM's relief fund for flood relief operations, news agency ANI reported.
The European Union has allocated an initial contribution of Euro 190,000 in humanitarian aid funding to support the Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS) for immediate relief assistance. The aid will directly benefit 25,000 from among the most affected people in some of the worst hit areas of the state, it said.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan visits relief camps
Malayalam actor Mohanlal thanks his fans for arranging Rs 15 lakhs for Kerala floods
The floods in Kerala, the worst in a century, have killed over 237 since August 8.
While UAE has offered Rs. 700 crore in financial assistance, Qatar has pledged Rs. 35 crore and Maldives has announced a donation of Rs. 35 lakh.
Close to three million Indians live and work in the UAE, out of which 80 per cent are from Kerala, according to official data.
The Kerala government is understood to be unhappy over the centre's decision not to accept donations from foreign governments. State chief minister tweeted: "We asked Union Gov for financial support of ₹2200 Cr ; they grant us a precious ₹600 Cr . We make no request to any foreign gov but UAE gov voluntarily offer ₹700cr. No, says Union gov , it is below our dignity to accept foreign aid. This is a dog in the manger policy."
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will visit relief camps in Chengannur, Kozhencherry, Alappuzha, North Paravoor and Chalakudy, his office said.
A number of countries including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Maldives have announced they want to help Kerala recover from the devastating floods.
The Centre will not take help from foreign governments that are pledging financial assistance to Kerala, the foreign ministry said in a statement late on Tuesday.