Opposition parties blamed the State government for not taking adequate precautionary measures
PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss visiting flood affected villages in Cuddalore district along with his party men on Wednesday. (Photo: DC)
CHENNAI: With over 60 people dying in rain-related incidents, including 27 in the worst affected Cuddalore district in the last couple of days, opposition parties led by DMK and DMDK blamed the State government for not taking adequate precautionary measures to prevent loss of lives. Even as the State government announced a compensation of '4 lakh for persons killed in rain-related incidents, opposition parties have demanded that the sum be hiked to Rs 10 lakh.
Interestingly, DMDK chief Vijayakanth announced a financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh for 17 persons killed in Cuddalore district alone. In a statement, DMK president M. Karunanidhi alleged that the State government had not taken adequate preventive measures to tackle the monsoon fury as there was inundation of residential localities and fields in various parts of the State.
He said various parts of the State, including Chennai, had been affected due to incessant rain even as crops had been damaged in many parts. He sought a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for families of those killed in rain-related incidents and adequate compensation to farmers for crop losses. He urged his partymen to work under the leadership of respective district secretaries to help the affected people. He conveyed his condolences to the families of those killed in rain-related incidents.
Vijayakanth said though it is not possible to stop natural calamities, had the State government taken precautionary steps, loss of lives could have been averted. He alleged that people are complaining that relief works are being carried out at snail's pace. The people are suffering without adequate drinking water, food and power supply. “The State government has failed to learn lesson from the destruction caused by Thane cyclone,” he said, pointing out that 10 people belonging to oppressed communities had died as they were living in low-lying areas.
PMK's chief ministerial candidate Anbumani Ramadoss who visited rain- affected areas in Cuddalore, criticised the State government for not taking any action to provide immediate relief to the affected people in Cuddalore, Villupuram, Nagapattinam and Tiruvarur districts. “Many acres are under water, and the government must announce compensation to the extent of Rs 10 lakh to each of the families of those killed in rain-related incidents,” he said.
The People's Welfare Alliance said despite meteorological department's warning of cyclone and heavy rain, the state government failed to act. “We want the government to take up relief works on a war footing,” it demanded in a statement. The four party alliance demanded the state government to provide Rs 10 lakh compensation for the families of those killed in rain and Rs 25,000 per acre for loss of paddy crop.
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( Source : deccan chronicle )
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