The Centre on Thursday sanctioned the release of Rs 20 crore each to flood-hit Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka for restoration of damaged rural drinking water supply system in the two states.

Union Minister for Rural Development C P Joshi sanctioned the grants from the calamity component of National Rural Drinking Water Programme of the Ministry, an official said.

"The amount sanctioned by the Ministry has to be utilized in restoration of the damaged rural drinking water supply system in the flood-affected Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka," he added.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had recently visited the two states and made aerial survey of the flood-battered areas. He also reviewed relief measures initiated by respective state governments and announced Rs 1,000 crore assistance to each of them for flood relief and rehabilitation.

He described as "unprecedented" the destruction caused by floods in parts of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh and said Centre would stand ready to assist them in every possible way. Singh had earlier announced an ex-gratia relief of Rs one lakh each to the next of kin of those killed in the floods.