He highlighted the damage caused by the heavy rain in the southern districts and said relief work is being carried out.
Published Dec 20, 2023 | 12:34 PM ⚊ Updated Dec 20, 2023 | 12:34 PM
Thoothukudi inundated by continuous heavy rainfall. (Screengrab)
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, on Tuesday, 19 December, requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to release ₹2,000 crore from the National Disaster Relief Fund to bolster the efforts for livelihood support and repair of public infrastructure affected by the recent flooding in the state’s southern districts.
This interim relief will help provide livelihood assistance to the affected people and take up temporary rehabilitation works in the Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Kanniyakumari, and Tenkasi districts, Stalin said in a memorandum submitted to Modi in Delhi.
“While a comprehensive assessment of the permanent damage will take time, we request an interim assistance of ₹2,000 crore from the NDRF (National Disaster Relief Fund) to bolster the ongoing efforts for livelihood support and repairs and restoration of the public infrastructure battered by the unprecedented floods,” he said in the memorandum.
Later, in a post on X, Stalin said, “Met with Hon’ble Prime Minister Thiru @NarendraModi to discuss the urgent situation in flood-hit areas of Tamil Nadu.”
“Submitted a memorandum seeking funds from #NDRF to enhance ongoing rescue efforts and restore vital infrastructure. Grateful for the @PMOIndia’s attention to Tamil Nadu's needs during these challenging times,” he added.
Met with Hon’ble Prime Minister Thiru @NarendraModi to discuss the urgent situation in flood-hit areas of Tamil Nadu. Submitted a memorandum seeking funds from #NDRF to enhance ongoing rescue efforts and restore vital infrastructure. Grateful for the @PMOIndia‘s attention to… pic.twitter.com/7Rhn7XaaEk
— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) December 19, 2023
Additionally, Chennai and its suburbs were affected by Cyclone Michaung which triggered unprecedented heavy rain not witnessed in the past 47 years. Besides, the damage caused by heavy rain for the first time in 100 years in the four southern districts should be declared as a national calamity, he urged the Prime Minister.
Stalin requested early allocation of funds for the damage caused in the Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, and Tiruvallur districts by Cyclone Michaung.
He highlighted the damage caused by the heavy rain in the southern districts and said that relief work is being carried out.
Necessary funds should be allocated quickly for repairing the damage, Stalin said in the memorandum, an official release in Chennai said.
The Chief Minister mentioned that the inter-ministerial team that surveyed the areas affected by Cyclone Michaung appreciated the Tamil Nadu government for promptly carrying out the rescue and relief work.
Around 40 lakh people in the Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi districts were badly affected by the cyclone. He said that Srivaikuntam and Thoothukudi town faced a serious situation due to flooding of the Thamirabarani river.
Rescue and relief operations, along with the mobilisation of officers and State Disaster Response Force and National Disaster Response Force teams, are underway in these four districts. Inundated roads hindered relief material distribution and they are now being delivered using helicopters, he said.
As the state was coping with the relief and rehabilitation of the four districts, including Chennai where Cyclone Michaung wreaked havoc on 4 December, heavy rains battered the southern districts of Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Tenkasi, and Kanniyakumari, on 17 and 18 December, the Chief Minister said.
Villages, towns, roads, and highways in several regions of southern Tamil Nadu — including Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi — resembled rivers in spate.
As floodwaters gushed into residential neighbourhoods and roads, houses were inundated and people were marooned.
At Seevalaperi in Tirunelveli, residents huddled on the terrace of a few two-storeyed houses. Similar was the scene at Meenakshipuram in Tirunelveli.
Over 100 houses at Nesavalar Colony in Nagercoil were inundated and they were evacuated by the authorities and sent to relief centres. Several residents said they have never seen such extremely heavy rainfall and flooding.
Using ropes, local people and Fire and Rescue Service and disaster response teams helped those stranded amid flooded streams reach safe locations. At Krishnaberi in Tirunelveli, local people mobilised resources to rescue the stranded residents.
Despite relief from rains, the floods have damaged the infrastructure and the flood water is yet to recede.
The cyclone-triggered heavy rainfall had led to inundation in localities including Velachery and Tambaram. People were seen leaving their homes in the areas surrounded by water to safer zones, carrying their children and wading through stagnant water.
Chennai, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, and Tiruvallur in northern Tamil Nadu were hit by the cyclone and heavy inundation.
Under the influence of the severe cyclonic storm Michaung, Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, and Chengalpattu districts received a total of 109.41 cm of rainfall (3 and 4 December). Poonamalle (in Tiruvallur district, a Chennai suburb) received 32 cm and Perungudi (Chennai) received 29 cm.
During the Chennai floods, the state government has seeked the assistance of ₹5,000 crore, for the havoc Michaung brought.
The demand was made by DMK MP and Parliamentary Party leader TR Baalu in the Lok Sabha and Tiruchi Siva in the Rajya Sabha.
Siva said that while the state government is doing everything in its means, the damage to infrastructure is so huge that it cannot be repaired at the earliest. “The state government has requested an interim relief of ₹5,000 crore.”
(With PTI inputs)
