Andhra Pradesh donates Rs 35 crore to Kerala for rebuilding effort Thiruvananthapuram

AP donates Rs 35 crore to Kerala for rebuilding effort Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 12 (PTI) The Andhra Pradesh government has donated Rs 35 crore to rain-battered Kerala for relief and rehabilitation work.

Andhra Pradesh deputy chief minister Nimmakayala Chinnarajappa Wednesday handed over a cheque for the amount to state Industries minister E P Jayarajan here.

Chinnarajappa told reporters that Andhra Pradesh has also given 2,014 tons of rice and kits with essential food articles to Kerala. The state witnessed one of its worst calamities last month, he said, adding that Andhra Pradesh would support Kerala in its rebuilding efforts.

Chinnarajappa asked the Centre to accord sanction for accepting assistance from foreign countries during the time of calamities. He also asked Kerala to utilize a portion of the relief amount given by his state for rebuilding Pamba, the foothills of the Lord Ayappa temple at Sabarimala, which suffered massive devastation in the deluge.

Andhra Pradesh has a special connection with Sabarimala as lakhs of people from the state visit the hill shrine every year, he added.