Edappadi K Palaniswami seeks Rs 1,500 crore for relief works in Chennai
CHENNAI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday promised “all possible assistance” to Tamil Nadu government for carrying out relief work in Chennai and other districts affected by the recent rains as Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami sought a financial assistance of Rs 1,500 crore from the Centre. Reviewing the situation arising out of the rains that have been lashing the city and its suburbs since last week with Palaniswami and deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam, Modi gave a patient hearing to them on the damages caused to city’s infrastructure and assured “all help” from the Centre in restoring them.
Beginning his speech at a media event by paying homage to those killed in the recent rains, Modi assured all possible support to the Tamil Nadu government to tackle the situation due to rains. Later, the Twitter handle of the Prime Minister’s Office tweeted about the meeting Modi had with Palaniswami and Panneerselvam, reiterating the same message. Briefing reporters about his meeting with Modi, Palaniswami thanked the Prime Minister for “sparing 30 minutes from his busy schedule” to get a detailed briefing about the damage caused by the rains.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi was briefed in detail about the damage caused by rains in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Nagapattinam and Tiruvarur districts and expressed readiness to provide financial assistance for relief activities”, he said. Palaniswami, who along with Panneerselvam received Modi at the airport, said the Prime Minister also gave an assurance that the Union Government was ready to provide funds to find a permanent solution to prevent water stagnation in several areas of the Chennai metropolis.
He said the state government has sought Rs 1,500 crore from the Centre to repair the damage done due to the rains and creating long-lasting infrastructure that would even weather heavy rains. “Prime Minister promised that the Centre would provide the state government with funds (to execute such projects)”, Palaniswami said.
