Chennai: Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam on Tuesday dashed off a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking immediate relief of '1,000 crore for carrying out “immediate rehabilitation and reconstruction” in areas affected by Cyclone Vardah.
Mr Panneerselvam also asked Mr Modi to depute a team from the Government of India to study the extensive damages caused by the cyclonic storm.
“I request you to urgently sanction the release of an “on account” payment of Rs 1000 crores from the National Disaster Response Fund to the Government of Tamil Nadu to enable immediate relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction measures to proceed expeditiously,” the Chief Minister said in the letter.
He said the amount is being demanded from the Union Government since the relief and rehabilitation work cannot be done with the funds available with the State Government. Mr Panneerselvam said the Government of Tamil Nadu swung into action to take all necessary precautionary measures immediately after the IMD issued the Cyclone warning.
“I thank you for your prompt response and support in speedily dispatching the Central Forces. More than 15,000 persons from identified vulnerable and low lying areas were evacuated to 104 relief camps and provided with food, water, medical services and other essential services,” the CM said.
“State Government will present the detailed Memorandum on the extensive damages suffered due to the cyclonic storm Vardah in the next few days,” the CM told the PM.
Guv closely monitoring situation
A day after tropical cyclone Vardah devastated Chennai and its neighbourhood, Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam briefed Tamil Nadu Governor Ch. Vidyasagar Rao about rescue and rehabilitation works.
The Governor enquired about the situation in the wake of the cyclone and the Chief Minister apprised him of the rescue and rehabilitation works being undertaken, according to a release from Raj Bhavan here.
“The Governor is monitoring the situation closely,” the release added. Mr. Rao, who is also the Governor of Maharashtra, was “preoccupied” due to the winter session of that state's Assembly in Nagpur, the release said.
Cyclone Vardah had crossed the coast near here on Monday, tearing through the city, and devastating Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts.
Meanwhile, the State Disaster Management Agency said 1,531 uprooted or fallen trees have been removed from the roads. "Work is going on. All major roads have been cleared for traffic," the agency informed.
