Talking to newspersons at Chidambaram in Cuddalore district, where he was campaigning for the May eight Assembly poll, the Congress leader said while the Centre had sanctioned Rs 2347.19 crore, it had arranged external funding of Rs 2678.37 crore to the state.

Giving a break-up of funds released under various heads, he said of the total sanctioned amount, a sum of Rs 1115.22 crore had been released to the state government and the balance would be released against specific approved schemes and reimbursement against claims.

He said of the Rs 2347.19 sanctioned by the Centre, a sum of Rs 881.78 crore has so far been released and the balance was being reimbursed against claims by the state government.

Mr Chidambaram said after the devastating tsunami struck the state on December 26, 2004, the Centre had directly released Rs 617.20 crore for relief and response, Rs 9.94 crore for fishing harbour grant and Rs 8.50 crore for water supply.

Towards fisheries sector subsidy, the Centre had sactioned Rs 41.08 crore and had released Rs 131.91 crore. The balance Rs 310.17 crore was being reimbursed against claims by the state government.

Similarly, it had sanctioned Rs 650 crore for housing and land acquisition and the amount would be reimbursed against a claim by the state government, Mr Chidambaram said.

For fisheries sector loan, the Centre sanctioned Rs 566.47 crore and had so far released Rs 77.67 crore. The balance of 496.24 crore would be released against claims by the state government, he said.

For food grains, the Centre had sanctioned Rs 54 crore and had released the same under SGRY scheme, he added.

Of the total external funding of Rs 2678.37 crore, a sum of Rs 216 crore had been released and release of the balance awaited specific approved schemes by the state governemnt, Mr Chidambaram said.

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