New Delhi/Chennai: Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami today met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the latter’s residence in New Delhi and interacted for half-an-hour bringing to the PM’s notice the extent of damage cause by cyclone Gaja in the delta regions of Tamilnadu.
The CM also requested the Centre to sanction Rs 15,000 crore for undertaking relief activities, including an immediate sanction of Rs 1,500 crore.
Speaking to reporters in New Delhi after meeting Modi, Palaniswami said he handed over a memorandum detailing the losses caused by the devastating cyclone that ravaged the coastal districts urging the Prime Minister to immediately release Rs 1,431 crore for relief works, besides deputing a Central team to assess the damages caused by the calamity.
“This included Rs 4.50 crore to pay compensation to those who were killed in cyclone and rain-related incidents, Rs 200 crore assistance for the livelihood of the affected people, Rs 100 crore for damaged hutments, houses and tiled houses, Rs 1.50 crore towards the loss of cattle, goats and birds, Rs 87 crore for damaged crops of farmers and horticultural crops, Rs 685 crore for electricity department, Rs 76 for fisheries, Rs 16 crore for PWD Water Resources, Rs 57 crore for PWD buildings, Rs eight crore for health department, Rs 119 crore for State highways, Rs 5 crore for Panchayats and Town Panchayats, Rs 2 crore for Municipalities, Rs 62 crore for Rural development, Rs 2 crore for forest department and Rs 6 crore for Animal Husbandry department,” he added.
The financial package of Rs 15,000 crore included Rs 6,000 crore towards compensation for damaged huts and houses, Rs 6,254 crore for farm and horticultural crops, Rs 7,077 crore for electricity department, Rs 100 crore for fisheries, Rs 120 crore for PWD Water Resources, Rs 378 crore for State Highways, Rs 30 crore for Panchayats, Rs 5 crore for Municipalities, Rs 425 crore for Rural Development and Rs 150 crore for Animal Husbandry, which works to a total of Rs 14,910 crore. Palaniswami said the Prime Minister promised to provide the required assistance to the State.
The CM also took a dig at Leader of Opposition M K Stalin who earlier questioned the need for taking a helicopter to access the cyclone hit areas. Palaniswami, said, “How many areas could Stalin cover by foot? Just because I took a helicopter, I was able to quickly cover all areas and get a glimpse of the damage there so that everything can be reported to the PM.”