CPI today asked the Centre to carry out fresh assessment of damages caused by torrential rains in Tamil Nadu even as the party insisted J Jayalalithaa dispensation in the southern state to arrange for clothes, food and medicine supply to the affected "immediately".
CPI national secretary D Raja said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to Chennai should not remain "only a stock taking exercise" and expected things to move "swiftly" on ground in view of "unforeseen" problems, likely to surface when water levels recede.
Raja joined another Left outfit, CPI(ML), on the demand that Tamil Nadu be declared a "national disaster-hit" state.
The Rajya Sabha member said Centre must respond "quickly" to demands put forth by the state government, which he maintained will not be able to fight the calamity alone.
"A central team had paid visit to rain-hit areas of the state earlier. But given the current condition, Centre must send a team again there for fresh assessment and provide adequate assistance. Modi Government must respond quickly to the demands coming from the state," Raja said.
"The state government must ensure people receive clothes, food and healthcare facilities. It must also restore electricity supply locally on priority. People have suffered damage to properties. State must compensate those," he said.
Raja expressed concerns over damage to crops and was
apprehensive that exports from the state may also get hit.
"The rains will have cascading effect," Raja noted and said he will take up the issue in Parliament again.
The MP also asked the state bureaucracy to live up to its "own claims" of being "highly efficient" during this time of calamity.
At least 245 people have died in rain-related incidents since October 1 in Tamil Nadu.
Chennai and its suburbs and Kanchipuram and Tiruvallur districts took a pounding on Tuesday when a large number of areas were flooded. The deluge destroyed crucial road and rail links, shutdown the airport, snapped power and telecom lines and left lakhs of people stranded.
In a big relief to the hapless residents, supply of milk and vegetables picked up pace today but there were complaints of scarcity in several places coupled with high prices for essentials.
Mobile phone and internet services were getting restored in a staggered manner in several parts of the city.
