Thiruvananthapuram: The Indian Air Force has demanded Rs 113 crore from the Kerala government for the flood rescue activities undertaken by them last year. A letter in this regard has been received by the state government.
The IAF had demanded money from government earlier also for rescue operations. During the Ockhi cyclone havoc, state had taken help from IAF. The expense was later demanded from the state.
From August 15, 2018 the armed forces including IAF were involved in rescue mission in Kerala for four days consecutively. The letter sent to chief secretary from IAF headquarters demands to pay the amount for expenditure including helicopters.
During Ockhi cyclone, IAF had sent a bill of Rs 26 crore to the state followed by another bill of Rs 35 crore. Government had officially marked their protest then. But it has not responded on the Rs 113 crore bill.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had informed his displeasure to Centre on the bills sent during Ockhi. As a reply to this, Centre had informed that it is a normal procedure and the expense can be met from the SDRF fund provided by the Centre to states.
Earlier a bill of Rs 25 crore was sent to state towards the expenditure of aircrafts and helicopters used during flood. This was informed by CM at the Assembly last November.
