New Delhi: The government Friday announced Rs.53.68 billion allocation for repairs and restoration work following damages caused by natural calamities in nine states, including Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Kerala.

The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting Friday, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Information and Broadcasting Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunshi told reporters after the meeting that the reconstruction plan would be implemented over a period of two years in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh.

"The Rs.53.68 billion assistance is in addition to the release of additional central assistance for implementing the plan with a net grant of Rs.763.99 crore (Rs.7.63 billion) to the affected states as an additionality to the gross budgetary support," the minister said.

He said that the financial assistance would enable the affected states to undertake the long-term reconstruction of damaged infrastructure. "The affected states will implement the reconstruction plan in a period of two years during 2007-08 and 2008-09," the minister said.

Source : IANS