Central team meets Jaya, visits rain-hit areas in Tamil Nadu

In next 3 days, the team will visit flood-affected districts to calculate damages

An inter-ministerial group formed by Centre to take stock of flood damages in Tamil Nadu today met Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa before starting its visits to the rain-hit areas.

The team led by T V S N Prasad comprises representatives from central ministries of Agriculture, Finance, Rural Development, Drinking Water and Power, representatives of ministries of Road Transport and Highways and Health from Chennai apart from officilas of Central Water Commission, Ministry of Water Resources from Bengaluru.

The team will tour the affected districts during the next three days to see wide-spread damages to property including dwelling units and crops, infrastructure including roads and bridges, water supply and electricity supply systems badly battered in many areas.

Chief Minister Jayalalithaa while speaking to the team said four northern coastal districts Cuddalore, Kancheepuram, Chennai and Tiruvallur suffered large-scale damages and destruction due to extremely heavy rains in November.

“This was despite all precautionary measures taken on my instructions by state agencies and sistrict collectors, who were on high alert from the onset of the north east monsoon,” she said. 

Extremely heavy and sustained rainfall for several days left a trail of damage and destruction in many parts of the state.

She noted that at Neyveli in Cuddalore district it rained 437 mm on november 9. Similarly, Chennai received second heaviest monthly rainfall recorded more than 100 years in just first 20 days of November.

The state on the whole has already received rainfall of 483.6 mm which is higher than total rainfall it receives during entire north east monsoon season i.e. 440.40 mm which goes up to December.  While over 180 people died, more than 4 lakh people have been shifted to relief camps and provided food and shelter.

To meet the immediate expenditure on relief and restoration operations, the state government  sanctioned a sum of Rs 500 crore. 

“The trail of damage and destruction caused by the extremely heavy rainfall indicates a requirement of much higher expenditure. Further, the extent of damage is still unfolding and we have many weeks left in the north east monsoon period during which more weather systems are expected,” said Jayalalithaa.

In a detailed memorandum to the Prime Minister on November 23, 2015, Jaya indicated requirement of funds—for immediate rescue, relief and temporary and permanent restoration of infrastructure for the destruction caused so far—has been worked out at Rs 8,481 crore.

She had also requested immediate release of Rs 2,000 crore and asked the PM to depute a Central team to make an on-the-spot assessment of damages and to release central financial assistance without delay.

Responding to which the Prime Minister asked to release Rs 939 crore. The requirement of funds for relief and restoration of infrastructure are well beyond the resources available with the state. 

Jaya said, "I therefore request the Central team to make an in-depth assessment of the damages suffered by the State and to submit its report to the Ministry of Home Affairs expeditiously, so that the Government of India would be able to release central financial assistance without any delay”.