 "Tamil Nadu CM O Panneerselvam")
The Tamil Nadu Government has sought assistance of about Rs 22,500 crore from the Centre to meet the losses caused by the cyclonic storm Vardah, which hit three districts in the state, including Chennai, on December 12. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam on Monday met the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi in this connection.
This was Panneerselvam's maiden visit to Delhi after he took over as the Chief Minister of the state on December 5, a day after J Jayalalithaa's demise.
In a memorandum submitted to the Prime Minister, the state government has sought Rs 22,573.26 crore and has urged the Centre to release Rs 1,000 crore immediately to the state, Panneerselvam said, after meeting Modi in New Delhi.
Around 16 lives have been lost to the cyclone, which uprooted more than 12,000 trees disrupting traffic in Chennai and neighbouring areas.
Due to the extensive damage caused to transmission lines, sub-stations, transformers and distribution lines, power supply was cut off in most parts of Chennai as well as in large parts of Kancheepuram and Thiruvallur districts. More than 10,000 electric poles were mangled and more than 800 transformers damaged.
Extensive damage has been caused to huts, drinking water infrastructure, and sewerage facilities.
During the meeting, Panneerselvam urged the Prime Minister to confer the Bharat Ratna to the late Chief Minister and former AIADMK Supremo Jayalalithaa, who died earlier this month, after 75 days of hospitalisation. The state also urged the Centre to install a life-size bronze statue of her inside the Parliament complex.
"During the meeting we also reiterated the demands of our leader (Jayalalithaa) to form Cauvery Management and Cauvery Regulation Committees according to Cauvery Tribunal Final Verdict," Panneerselvam said.
