Centre's stand of not accepting UAE aid will not continue: Kerala CM Vijayan 

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday expressed hope of getting the offer of aid by the United Arab Emirates (UAE). 

CM Vijayan, at an event in Trivandrum, noted that the Central government's stand of not accepting the aid -- worth Rs 700 crore -- from the UAE would not continue.

The minister further added that many other nations have also come forward to help flood-ravaged Kerala.

"So the state has to find resources to overcome the shortage of funds for taking up the rehabilitation and rebuilding exercise," Vijayan added.

Vijayan noted that the state government had also made a request for a special package to tide over the situation besides the compensation for the loss and damage caused in the devastating deluge.

Last week, Vijayan had stated that there was no lack of clarity on UAE aid for the flood-ravaged state. 

He said NRI businessman MA Yusfuf Ali had informed him about the aid. The UAE aid was communicated to Ali when he had met the crown prince to convey Bakrid greetings, the Chief Minister noted.

"When I asked him whether it could be made public, he said there is no problem in it," Vijayan told media last Friday.

Vijayan said the issue whether or not to accept the aid was a matter to be decided by the Centre and that he expects the Modi-government to accept UAE's offer. 

Officials in the UAE embassy in New Delhi said no specific amount for financial aid to flood-ravaged Kerala was finalised officially by the United Arab Emirates and there was no announcement on donation to the state.

UAE ambassador Ahmed Albannam, without mentioning financial aid, said his government only set up a national emergency committee to provide relief assistance to people affected by flash floods in Kerala.

The Modi government has made clear that it won't be accepting any foreign aid for flood-hit Kerala and would solely rely on domestic measures to deal with the situation and the state get back to recovery. 

Nearly 400 people lost their lives in mammoth floods that lashed Kerala this monsoon season.

According to reports, over 10 lakh people were displaced and rendered homeless, taking shelter in over 5,000 relief camps set up across the state.