Tamil Nadu seeks Rs 2,629crore flood relief; central team to visit state

CHENNAI: Union Home minister Amit Shah on Wednesday assured Tamil Nadu that a six-member inter-ministerial team would visit the state by evening to assess flood damage, according to DMK Parliamentary party leader T R Baalu. The Tamil Nadu government sought a central assistance of Rs 2,629 crore towards flood relief.
Talking to reporters after a meeting with Shah in New Delhi, Baalu said he had submitted the state government’s memorandum to the Union minister on the directions from the chief minister, seeking a central aid of Rs 2,079 crore towards permanent restoration and Rs 550 crore to take up interim relief and restoration.
“The Union minister said he would send the team this evening and immediately decide on the further course of action after their return. Shah spoke to the chief minister over the phone,” the DMK leader said, expressing hope of the Centre’s support.
The state received 52% excess rainfall in October and 49% excess in November affecting 12 districts very heavily. Nearly 54 deaths were reported in rain-related incidents in the state, besides 9,500 huts, and 2,100 houses suffered damages.
Asked about the poor assistance from the Union government in the past disasters, Baalu said: “It all depends on the competence of the state government. Here is a government led by Stalin, not the previous government. We have 39 MPs. We will approach and get as much funds as we can,” Baalu said.
The State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) account stood at a deficit of Rs 7,500 crore due to mounting expenses. Despite that, the chief minister on Tuesday allocated Rs 300 crore towards restoration of roads, drains and other infrastructure and relief amount to farmers given that 50,000 hectares of agricultural crops and 527 horticultural crops inundated, the DMK leader said.