Patna: Blaming the Centre for not releasing the quota of foodgrains from the FCI, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said today that cash doles would be given to those affected by the floods when the Kosi river changed its course.

"As the Centre did not release the required quota of foodgrains, wheat and rice from the FCI at their existing rate, we are giving cash doles for the purchase of foodgrains," Kumar said.

This time every affected family would be given Rs 1,590 in cash to purchase foodgrains, he said.

He hoped that the Centre would soon release the special package demanded by the state government to take up infrastructure work as the prime minister had declared last year s floods as a national calamity .

The chief minister said on Janaury 9 he would visit Kushaha in Nepal where the Kosi breached on August 18 to oversee the plugging of breached site.
Source : PTI