Goa BJP wants govt to use IFFI funds for relief work

The Goa unit of BJP today said a portion of funds to be used for holding International Film Festival of India (IFFI) should be diverted towards flood relief in the state. “The portion of funds reserved by the state government for IFFI 2009 and other activities should be diverted to compensate and rehabilitate the people severely affected by the floods,” BJP Goa unit chief Sripad Naik told reporters here.

He said the party is going to make a formal request to the state government asking it to give priority to the relief work as floods have caused damage worth over Rs 150 crore. “Horticulture worth Rs 60 to Rs 70 cores is ruined due to floods and around 400 houses have been damaged,” Naik, who visited the affected spots yesterday, said.