Will seek Central aid after assessment of loss: Edappadi K Palaniswami

COIMBATORE: Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami lashed out at DMK president M. K. Stalin for visiting the rain-battered Nilgiris district for “the sake of publicity,” and said the State government is taking all measures to provide relief to the rain-hit families in the hilly district of Nilgiris.

The DMK leader, the Chief Minister said had he visited the district only for “publicity sake.” “He will visit the area for one or two days and but we are here to help the people,” Mr. Palaniswami said and added that Stalin had visited a day after the Revenue Minister R. B. Udayakumar had visited the affected areas to assess the situation.

“The DMK alliance has done no good (to the people),” he alleged, adding that the State government was supporting the good schemes of the Centre. Speaking to reporters at the airport here the CM said unlike the DMK president, the State government would take all measures and provide relief to the people and compensate their losses.

To a question he replied that Central assistance would be sought once the process of assessing the losses due to rains was over. “Our Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam will visit the affected parts and meet the people. He will make an assessment of the losses department wise. Once this is completed, then we will ask the Centre to provide relief to Tamil Nadu,” Mr. Palaniswami
said.

After visiting Nilgiris on Monday, Mr. Stalin accused the State government of not taking any preventive measures to tackle the impact of rains and floods.

He also had demanded that Nilgiris be declared a natural disaster-prone district.