CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government on Saturday urged the Centre to declare the devastation caused by cyclone Thane as a national calamity and sought over Rs 5,000 crore as financial assistance from the Union Government for undertaking relief and restoration work in the affected areas, particularly Cuddalore district.A 10-member Central team led by Lokesh Jha, Joint Secretary, Union Ministry of Home Affairs, held discussions for two hours, with top officials of over 10 key State departments and Chief Secretary Debendranath Sarangi at the Secretariat. During the meeting, the team was appraised of the damage caused by the cyclone in Cuddalore district, and a detailed memorandum on the damages caused to public properties, standing crops, roads, bridges, electricity infrastructure, etc., was submitted.The team will visit the Thane-hit areas in Puducherry on Sunday and tour Cuddalore and Villupuram districts on Monday. The team will return to Chennai on Tuesday to have a wrap-up meeting with top officials of the State government, before leaving for New Delhi.The Central team is likely to submit its report within a fortnight, giving recommendations about the quantum of financial assistance that can be given to TN.Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, who made an aerial survey of the affected districts, had allocated `850 crore towards immediate relief and restoration works in Cuddalore district. Most of the State Ministers and a battery of government officials, including six senior IAS officers, are overseeing the relief work and distribution of financial assistance.
Comments
0 comment