Sunday, December 18 2005 16:29 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kandanur (TN): The Union Government is ready to take up Tsunami rehabilitation work with its own funds and also loans from the World Bank and ADB and hence the State Government should send proposals to the respective departments at the Center and get the funds released, Union finance Minister P Chidambaram said here today (Dec 18,2005).

Responding to Chief Minister Jayalalitha's charge that he was 'misleading' the public with 'false information' about the Tsunami rehabilitation fund, he told reporters here that the Centre had given all the details about the funds available for the respective departments, the heads under which they were available and other matters.

It was the Home Minister who recommended sanctioning of funds or grants for rehabilitation work.

"The respective line state department should approach the respective line Central Government department with the proposals and get the fund sanctioned", he said.

In fact, the funds have been ready since January and February, he said and pointed out that even on Dec 16, he had ordered sanction of Rs 131 crore for fishermen's nets and boats.

"The finance has been assigned. The fund outlay is there. The state government could apply for both grant and the loan," he said.

He said State Government officials were also present during the negotiations with the World Bank and the ADB.

It may be recalled that Jayalalithaa had charged Chidambaram with trying to project the loan provided by International funding agencies like the World Bank and ADB, as financial assistance extended by the Central Government.

She was referring to his statement that the Center had given Rs 2347.19 crore for Tsunami rehabilitation and said the Government has received only Rs 679.61 crore. She also asked for a detailed breakup of dates on which Central funds were credited to the State Government.