Cong CMs146; drought list gets PM146;s no

Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee today turned down the demand of Congress CMs for more funds to tackle drought in their states, saying the governments should first use foodgrains provided under the Food for Work programme by the Centre.

In contrast, sources stated that the TDP delegation, which called on Agriculture Minister Ajit Singh, was assured that a Central team would visit the state to sympathetically consider its demand.

After the meeting, Agriculture Minister Ajit Singh said the complete assessment of the situation would be done only by August 15. He said the stage had not yet come for the release of money to the drought-affected states under the Calamity Relief Fund. Congress-ruled Rajasthan had received the maximum of Rs 80 crore last year while Chattisgarh had been given Rs 42 crore, he said.