Centre has declared Tamil Nadu floods as 'calamity of severe nature': Jayalalithaa

Chennai: The Centre has declared the recent floods in Tamil Nadu as a 'calamity of severe nature', with parliamentarians being informed that they can recommend renovation and rehabilitation efforts to the tune of Rs one crore from MPLADS, Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa said on Thursday.

"Heeding my request, the central government has declared the floods (and resultant) damage as Calamity of Severe Nature," she said in a statement here.

The Centre's announcement came after she made a plea to Prime Minister Narendra Modi here last week, seeking that the floods be declared as "National Disaster," she said.

She recalled she had held detailed discussions with Modi about the torrential rains and the subsequent deluge after he undertook an aerial survey of Chennai and its neighbourhoods on December 3, 2015.

Further, the Parliament Secretariat has issued a circular to lawmakers that they can recommend allocating upto Rs one crore worth renovation and rehabilitation efforts from Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) in the flood-affected districts, she said.

Approval letters in this regard could be sent to the Union Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, she said, citing the circular.

She had directed state Chief Secretary K Gnanadesikan to apprise MPs of the required renovation and rehabilitation efforts in flood-ravaged districts of Tamil Nadu, the CM said.

Jayalalithaa said she had asked her party MPs to contribute Rs one crore from their MPLADS for this purpose. AIADMK has 37 members in the Lok Sabha while its strength in the Upper House is 14.

The Chief Minister recalled that the northeast monsoon, which brings the bulk of Tamil Nadu's annual rainfall, had set in late by October-end.

However, heavy rains filled up reservoirs and lakes, following which excess water was discharged into rivers even as Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallore and Cuddalore were badly hit, she pointed out.