Centre provides aid to drought-hit Tamil Nadu, Karnataka (Lead)

New Delhi, April 1 : The central government has released Rs 1,447.99 crore to Tamil Nadu and Rs 1,782.44 crore to Karnataka as financial assistance for drought relief.

Inter-Ministerial Central Teams (IMCT) were deputed to visit the drought affected areas for spot assessment of the calamity, as per a statement.

The Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh-headed High Level Committee (HLC) had recommended the quantum of assistance to the states based on the extant norms of assistance and the report of the IMCT.

The HLC has also advised the state governments to take utmost care and ensure that all the individual beneficiary-oriented assistance are mandatorily disbursed through the bank account of the beneficiaries. 

In addition, the Central government has released Rs 264.11 crore from NDRF for providing aid to Tamil Nadu for the cyclonic storm ‘Vardha' during December, 2016.