Chennai: Leader of Opposition M.K. Stalin on Tuesday urged the state government to take measures on a war-footing to restore normalcy in the state and focus on restoration of power supply and transport to the affected areas.
He expressed condolences to people who lost their lives due to Vardah cyclone and assured that the DMK would help the affected families and support them to the extent possible. Since, the storm had caused great damage and hit the normal lives of the people, DMK cadre should help the people in their localities, co-ordinating the works of officials and NGOs.
Besides, people have been shifted to camps for their safety and DMK activists and functionaries have gone to camps and help the people along with the officials and other organisations.
Immediately after the storm, Stalin issued a similar statement asking party cadres to help people affected by Vardah. Even before the storm approached, the Opposition leader asked the people to follow the precautions given by the government and remain safely in their houses and offices, without venturing outside.
In another statement, Stalin appealed to Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam to visit New Delhi and meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a request to send a Central team to assess the damages and provide Rs. 10,000 crores as a first instalment from the disaster relief fund.
Three districts, Chennai, Kanchipuram and Tiruvallur had been hit been hit severely by Vardha storm and people are struggling to get food and shelter. Poor people have lost their houses and property, he said and added that fishermen, vendors and unorganised workers lost their income and are struggling to get their essential needs.
Besides, small and micro industrialists too have been affected and many fishermen lost their boats, losing their livelihood. The rehabilitation measures are not being taken at a fast pace causing concern, he said and asked the government to bring electricity board staff and municipality workers from other districts to the affected districts to restore normalcy, which is the first priority.
Stalin goes around Kolathur on bike
DMK treasurer M.K. Stalin on Tuesday visited his constituency Kolathur and met people affected by Vardah, consoling them, besides inspecting the damages caused by the storm.
He went by two-wheeler to places which he cannot reach by car and inspected the works of removing the fallen trees and renovating the damaged houses.
He also requested officials to restore normalcy on a war-footing. People who thronged their MLA narrated their woes and problems caused by Vardah and placed their requests to Stalin.
Talking to reporters at Kolathur, he said Vardah had hit Chennai and neighbouring districts, severely affecting the public. A minimum of ten persons have died due to the storm and Chennai itself had been paralysed.
“I am inspecting the damages caused within the areas in Kolathur constituency. There are reports that about 20,000 trees and 3,000 lamp posts had fallen”, he said.
State government departments and corporation are involved in removing the fallen trees and lamp posts and normalise electricity supply. The functionaries and activists of DMK should support their activities, he insisted.
Besides, there are chances for spread of infectious diseases, he cautioned and said the corporation and the officials of departments should conduct medical camps at necessary places.
Besides, action should be taken for regular supply of drinking water, milk and essential commodities. People of the constituency complained that trees had fallen on their houses, leading to a dangerous situation, he said and added that they had appealed to him to take steps for removing such trees. “I have put forward the demands of people to the appropriate officials and asked them to take suitable and speedy action,” he added.
