Kerala Needs Rs 30,000 Crore For Rehabilitation, Says Its FM

The Kerala government will require Rs 30,000 crore for rehabilitation and reconstruction, besides compensation for various damages caused by the recent floods and torrential rains in the state.

Malayalam daily Madhyamam quoted State Finance Minister Thomas Isaac as saying that Kerala would required Rs 20,000 crore for capital expenditure and the rest for revenue expenses.

The money, to be spent under the capital expenditure head, would relate to rebuilding of roads, bridges and buildings. Revenue expenditure will go towards compensating farmers for loss of crops, damage to houses and a flood relief of Rs 10,000 to each affected family.

Kerala expects to get a funding of Rs 6,000 crore through public contributions, while the Centre will likely chip in with Rs 4,000 crore through central schemes such as Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and National Rural Livelihood Programme. The rest will have to be borrowed and Kerala will put pressure on the Centre, Isaac said.

Kerala witnessed unprecedented rains and floods during July-August resulting in at least 10 of the 14 districts being affected in the state. The authorities released water from 80 dams resulting in severe floods and damage to homes, buildings and roads. Over 370 people lost their lives, while over three lakh homes were affected. Over 10,000 km of roads were also damaged in the floods, the worst since 1924.