NEW DELHI – India on Wednesday rejected an offer by the United ArabEmirates government to give $100 million to a special fund for Kerala stateafter its floods which killed more than 400 people.

The move came despite calls to accept the Gulf state’s largesse by Kerala’schief minister who has pleaded for more aid than India’s government has sofar committed to.

“In line with the existing policy, the government is committed to meetingthe requirements for relief and rehabilitation through domestic efforts,”the foreign ministry said in a statement explaining the move.

The ministry added that foreign money could only be donated throughIndian-origin individuals or foundations.

India has a record of refusing foreign aid after disasters, turning downforeign help after the 2004 tsunami.

Experts said Indian governments want to prove they can handle any emergencyby themselves.

India did not specifically mention the UAE offer made Tuesday, saying onlythat it “deeply appreciates offers from several countries, including fromforeign governments, to assist in relief and rehabilitation efforts afterthe tragic floods”.

The Maldives government had also promised money for the floods.

But the refusal is likely to spark a political controversy.

Kerala state chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan called for “high level” talkswith the national government so the UAE money could be accepted.

The UAE offer is more than the $97 million so far promised by India’scentral government. Vijayan has asked for a $375 million package from thegovernment, saying the state must confront more than $3 billion indevastation.

The monsoon floods have left more than 420 dead since June with some 1.34million people now in over 3300 relief camps across the state.

“The whole world is extending a helping hand towards the State at thisjuncture,” Vijayan added, citing distress contributions from across thecountry — and exhorting New Delhi’s further assistance.

A Kerala government spokesman told AFP that all rescue operations had beencompleted and now the focus was on giving immediate relief and futureplanning.

Thousands of army, navy and air force personnel fanned out across the stateto help those stranded in remote and hilly areas.

Dozens of helicopters and even drones have dropped food, medicine and waterto cut-off villages in the last few days.

Tens of thousands of people across the state are still relying on communitykitchens for meals.

The government says that more than 10,000 kilometres (6,000 miles) of roadshave been destroyed or damaged while a legislator said 50,000 houses hadbeen wiped out.

There have been many reports of snake bites and reptile sightings, even acrocodile, inside people’s mud filled homes after the waters drained out.

Snake catchers, experts and animal rescue teams have been busy respondingto distress calls to catch and safely release these reptiles as peopleslowly returned to their homes in the last 48-hours.

The floods have also hit tourism sector in India’s tourist hotspototherwise known for its pristine beaches and backwaters. – APP/AFP