THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Indian Navy has demanded Rs 133 crore towards the rescue and relief operation it had performed during Kerala floods.

But Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has asked the Navy to exempt Kerala from making the payment. He said it would be difficult for a flood-battered Kerala to find so much money for the payment.

Including this fact, the chief minister has sent a letter to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The flood that devastated Kerala happened August last year and later the Navy had asked the State for remittance of Rs 113,69,34, 899 towards logistical and manpower expenses.

“It is difficult for Kerala which had survived 2017 Okhi cyclone and 2018 floods to pay so much amount. As per the UN report, Kerala needs Rs 31,000 cr for maintenance and rehabilitation works. Till now, it has got only Rs 2904.85 cr from National Disaster Response Fund.

This amount will not be sufficient for rehabilitation and other works. The government had conceived Rebuild Kerala project for rebuilding the State. It would be difficult to make the payment as mobilisation of funds for the project is going on,” the government pointed out in the letter.