Chennai rains: Tamil Nadu turns down Karnataka’s help

Bengaluru: For Tamil Nadu, a helping hand extended by the US to tackle the flood situation is acceptable but not a generous gesture by Karnataka. The Tamil Nadu government has conveyed to Karnataka that it does not want assistance given by Karnataka in this regard. The Tamil Nadu home secretary reportedly conveyed this message to his Karnataka counterpart S.K. Pattanayak.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had on Wednesday announced Rs 5 crore as assistance to Tamil Nadu. The health department was willing to send medicines to Tamil Nadu while the Rural development and panchayat raj department has already sent a large consignment of potable drinking water. Karnataka Milk Federation was about to send three tankers of milk to Chennai. The devastation is so severe that the administrative machinary is reportedly not equipped to receive and distribute the milk, so the proposal was shot down, said sources.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said, “We are yet to send the cheque.” Former PM Deve Gowda when asked about the refusal, said he felt sad that the Tamil Nadu chief minister had turned down the offer. “It is a gesture by a neighbouring state during a distressing phase.”

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