Wednesday, August 3 2005 20:51 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Government today (Aug 3, 2005) announced a fresh aid of Rs 500 crore for flood relief in Maharashtra after it came under attack from members in the Rajya Sabha who complained of inadequate relief operations in rain-battered Mumbai and other parts of the State.

The Rs 500-crore aid would be in addition to the first instalment of Rs 500 crore announced by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Home Minister Shivraj Patil said replying to a calling attention on the floods raised by senior BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) member Pramod Mahajan.

Asserting that the Government will leave no stone unturned to carry out relief operations on a war footing, he said money was no constraint and the Government was in the process of preparing a long-term plan to deal with floods in Mumbai through improved sewage system.

Patil said the same principle as that of tsunami and Bhuj earthquake would be adopted in providing compensation to the victims of floods in Maharashtra.

The Centre would provide Rs one lakh ex-gratia and the State Government an additional Rs one lakh to all those killed in the floods.