The State government on Thursday sent a detailed report about the damages caused by rains, seeking rs 1,607 crore as financial assistance from the National Calamity Relief Fund.
In 2008, when the State faced huge losses due to the monsoon havoc, Rs 3,789 crore was sought as assistance from the Centre. However, even after a team from the Centre visited Tamil Nadu in December 2008 and gave hope for a higher grant, the Central government allocated a very meager amount as assistance.
This year, 203 people have lost their lives, while 3.20 lakh houses and 48,000 hutments were affected by floods. While standing crops in 15 lakh acres got submerged in rain water, 5,068 cattle perished. The State government has allocated `500 crore for immediate relief measures.
MK hits out at Jaya: Taking exception to the remarks of AIADMK general secretary J Jayalalithaa that he and all his Cabinet colleagues took part in a cinema function forgetting the woes of the rain-affected people, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi on Thursday said that Jayalalithaa's outburst against him showed that she could not stomach VIPs congratulating him.
Writing for Murasoli, the DMK chief said only six ministers took part in the cinema function and they too had left for their respective districts immediately after the event was over to monitor relief wor [...]
