Centre to sympathetically consider TN's plea for flood relief

Tiruchirapalli, Dec 28 (UNI) The Centre will sympathetically consider the Tamil Nadu Government's plea for Rs 1,500 crore Central assistance to carry out relief and rehabilitation works in the rain-hit areas of the State, soon after receipt of a formal request, Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram said today.

Talking to newspersons here, he said the Union Government was yet to receive any formal request from Tamil Nadu in this regard.

On a direction from Chief Minister M Karunanidhi to assess the extent of damage after incessant rains played havoc in the State, the Revenue Administration had recommended that the State could approach the Centre for an assistance of Rs 1510.87 crore to take up relief works. Revenue Administration Commissioner Sakthikanta Doss had presented a report in this regard to Mr Karunanidhi at the Secretariat yesterday.

The torrential rains had claimed the lives of over 70 people, devastated paddy crops in thousands of acres, besides causing extensive damage to roads, culverts, bridges and houses.

UNI