Seeking relaxation of central norms to offer higher compensation for natural calamity victims,the state government,which had pegged the damage caused by cyclone Phyan at Rs 2,538.53 crore has asked for a central aid of Rs 1,170.72 crore. This follows a series of meetings with the central team that visited the state to assess the damage caused by Phyan,that had hit the Maharashtra coast on November 10-11 causing widespread devastation especially in the coastal belt of Konkan. The team that concluded its visit on Saturday met Chief Minister Ashok Chavan,besides several ministers and officials. Government officials said that the team that arrived on December 17 was satisfied with the report presented by state and has asked the government to ensure fodder and seed supply in the affected regions for next year.
