Tamil Nadu seeks Rs 1,500 crore central aid for rain relief, PM Modi assures assistance

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government today sought Rs 1,500 crore central aid for relief work in parts of the state hit by heavy rains even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi on a visit to this city assured the administration of all assistance.

During a day-long visit to Chennai, Modi reviewed the situation arising out of heavy rains and floods in Chennai and other parts of Tamil Nadu among other engagements.

Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, Cuddalore and Nagapattinam have bore the brunt of the monsoon fury, with torrential rains inundating low-lying areas. Nine people died across the state in the recent spell of heavy rain.

Chief Minister K Palaniswami said a request for central assistance was made to the prime minister at the review meeting which was also attended by Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam.

"We have sought about Rs 1,500 crore. During heavy rains, there is water-logging in the low-lying areas of Chennai, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts. To put in place a permanent solution and create basic facilities, about Rs 1,500 crore is required," he told reporters.

Modi gave an assurance that the Centre would provide the required assistance, Palaniswami said.

He further said the prime minister was also briefed about the damages caused in the affected parts of Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, Nagapattinam and Tiruvarur districts.

They discussed the issue for about half an hour, when Modi arrived here to attend a couple of functions, including the 75th anniversary celebrations of a popular Tamil daily.

The prime minister also sought to know about permanent solutions to these issues and promised funds towards such efforts, the chief minister added.

"I assure all possible support to the Tamil Nadu government to tackle the situation due to rains," Modi said at a function to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Tamil daily Dina Thanthi here.

The prime minister expressed grief over the rain-related deaths over the last few days.

"On landing in Chennai, PM @narendramodi discussed the situation arising due to heavy rains and floods in Chennai and other parts of Tamil Nadu with the CM (K Palaniswami) & Dy CM (O Panneerselvam) of the state. He assured them of all assistance from the Centre," @PMOIndia, the official twitter handle of Prime Minister's Office, said in a tweet.

The North-East monsoon, which set in on October 27, has been active over Tamil Nadu, with Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, Nagapattinam and Cuddalore districts receiving heavy rains since last week.

Meanwhile, the regional weather office forecast more rains in southern Tamil Nadu and Karaikkal in Puducherry.

S Balachandran, Director, Area Cyclone Warning Centre, told reporters that heavy to very heavy rains were likely in the next 24 hours in south Tamil Nadu, Cauvery delta districts and Karaikal.

The weather office also forecast occasional spells of rains for Chennai.

In the last 24 hours ending at 8.30 AM today, Parangipettai in Cuddalore district received 10.6 cm of rain. Puducherry recorded 10.2 cm of rainfall.