AIADMK urges Centre to intervene, take up rescue work

Puducherry, Jan 2: Opposition AIADMK today (Jan 2) urged the Centre to take up relief and rescue work in cyclone Thane devasted Puducherry as the government had ‘failed’ to take up enumeration on the damage in coastal areas and not even finalised any report on relief for the affected sections.

Speaking to reporters here today, party’s local unit secretary A Anbalagan, MLA, said water and power supply had not been restored in most areas. The official machinery was yet to take up enumeration of total huts damaged, estimated at around 40,000 and the number of those dead, he said.

The Centre should intervene and take up rescue and relief work by deploying the Calamity and Natural Disaster Management force, he said.

Without taking practical steps, Chief Minister N Rangasamy had announced cash relief of Rs 2000 to each family, he said and urged the government to adopt the Centre’s guidelines under the Calamity Relief Fund. He also charged the Centre with remaining a mute spectator at this time of crisis.

Anbalagan demanded that an extraordinary meeting of the Assembly be convened to discuss the havoc caused by cyclone and the administration’s ‘failure’ to act.

PTI