Chennai: Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami today said steps are being taken to construct new buildings to replace the houses damaged during cyclone Gaja.
Responding to a special attention seeking motion brought by the opposition parties in the Assembly, Palaniswami said the government has alloted Rs 2,000 crore for the rehabilation works
“A total of 81,948 people were made to stay in 471 camps during the cyclone Gaja, which helped in saving a lot of lives. The relief package for people who lost their boats during cyclone Gaja will be increased from Rs 85,000 to 1.50 lakh,” he added.
Explaining the reason for visiting the affected areas in helicopter, Palaniswami said he could not have got a clear idea of the damage if he had travelled by road.
The ongoing Assembly session started 3 January with the Governor Banwarilal Purohit’s address during which the DMK, Congress and IUML staged a walkout.
In his speech Purohit said Pongal gift hampers along with Rs 1,000 as cash will be given to card holders. Purohit began his speech with New Year wishes in Tamil and broadly outlined the policies and programmes of the State government.
On the second day yesterday, condolence resolutions were adopted for former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, former Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, 12 former Tamilnadu MLAs, including Parithi Ilamvazhuthi and A K Bose, victims of Cyclone Gaja, ‘five rupees doctor’ Jayachandran and organic farmer ‘Nel’ Jayaraman.
Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam heaped praise on Karunanidhi while adopting a condolence resolution for the DMK patriarch. Palaniswami said Karunanidhi was a formidable force not only in State politics but also in the country.
Similarly, Panneerselvam said even those who have political differences with Karunanidhi will be a huge fan of his Tamil. The Assembly session will go on till 8 January.