Goa donates Rs.5 crore for Kashmir relief fund

Panaji, Sep 18 (IANS) The Goa government will donate Rs.5 crore for relief work in flood-hit Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said on Thursday.

Speaking to reporters here, Parrikar, however, said the fund will be credited to the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund and not to the state government because the latter, according to the Goa cabinet, failed to deliver the post-flood relief work.

"The important thing is that the cabinet felt that the government of India has performed exceedingly well in delivering relief to the people of Kashmir, whereas the state government has not been able to deliver. So we are sending the money to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund so that it can be used 100 percent," Parrikar said.

At least Rs.5 crore will be directly donated by the state government, Parrikar said adding an account would also be opened for the public next week, where they could donate money to assuage those affected by the tragedy.

"That money too with the Rs.5 crore, will be given to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund for further transmission to Kashmir," Parrikar said.