Friday, August 12 2005 13:16 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Terming the recent monsoon fury in Maharashtra as a 'national calamity,' Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today (August 12, 2005) said tsunami aid norms would be made applicable for relief and rehabilitation in the rain ravaged state.

Asserting that funds would be no constraint in tackling the situation, he told an all party delegation of MPs from the state has asked for sending medical experts and relief to the state immediately in the wake of reports of epidemic.

"I am proud of Maharashtra. The whole nation is proud of the state. All cooperation and assistance will be provided to tackle the situation and funds will be no constraint," the MPs quoted the PM as saying.

According to Shiv Sena Parliamentary Party leader Anant Geete and former Chief Minister and Congress MP A R Antulay, the Prime Minister acknowledged that Maharashtra has faced a 'national calamity' and that he would set up a special committee to ensure speedy rehabilitation.

He also assured the lawmakers that there would be no administrative delays in relief and rehabilitation work and that he would ask the banks and insurance companies to look into the problems of loans and settlement of claims.

The delegation submitted a memorandum urging the Prime Minister to provide Rs 5,000 crore ad hoc financial package to the state and making available Rs 1,200 crore for sewage and drainage system in Mumbai.

The MPs thanked the Prime Minister for his visit to the state and providing Rs 1,000 crore as immediate assistance.