By IANS,
New Delhi: New Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy Thursday urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to sanction a package of Rs.375 crore to provide relief to the families of those killed and those under treatment for ailments caused by use of endosulfan pesticide in the state.
“We have requested a one-time relief package,” Chandy said at a press conference here after a meeting with the prime minister, his first after taking over as chief minister Wednesday.
Chandy said the proposed package includes a compensation of Rs.1 lakh each to the families of those dead, compensation and treatment to the affected, and setting up a super-speciality hospital in Kerala’s northern district of Kasargode, where most of the endosulfan victims belong.
The chief minister said as per surveys, 486 people had died of endosulfan till 2008. The number of persons dead after 2008 will be collected within a month, he added.
Around 5,000 people are estimated to be under treatment for diseases caused by the use of endosulfan, he added.
Chandy said he urged the prime minister to sanction a Metro rail for Kochi and other developmental projects for the state.
He would meet Congress president Sonia Gandhi Friday to finalise the list of Congress ministers to be sworn-in May 23.
Chandy and leaders of six other constituent parties of the United Democratic Front (UDF) were administered oath of office as ministers in Thiruvananthapuram Wednesday.