Bihar feels left out as UP & MP get dole.

THE Union cabinet's decision to announce a drought package of Rs 7,277 crore for the Bundelkhand region in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh has reopened the Kosi wounds of Bihar.

The Nitish Kumar government had demanded a special package of Rs 14,800 crore to reconstruct the areas devastated by the Kosi floods. But the Centre refused to grant more than Rs 1,010 crore, given to it after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh declared the floods as a national calamity.

Bihar had also placed a demand for a drought relief package worth Rs 23,171 crore after declaring 26 out of 38 districts drought- hit because of deficient monsoon this year.

But the Centre chose to overlook this demand as well.

Renewing his demands, chief minister Nitish Kumar said Bihar should get a special package of Rs 14,800 crore for the reconstruction of the Kosi belt. " It is more than a year since the Bihar government placed its demand before the Centre but it is yet to provide us a single penny," Nitish said.

Nitish has no problem with the Centre's decision on Bundelkhand.

He has, in fact, welcomed it. But he insisted that Bihar should also get its due.

" The Centre's silence on the issue has pained the entire state as well as the people of this country," he said. " The Centre must pay heed to our demands immediately." Nitish said the Centre's task force headed by economist S. C. Jha had recommended a special package for Kosi and the Prime Minister had also promised adequate financial package after making an aerial survey of the flood- affected districts. But nothing was subsequently given to Bihar.

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