Rs 21,912 crore needed for Tamil Nadu flood relief: Jayalalithaa

Chennai, Dec 22: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Tuesday told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the state requires Rs 25,912 crore towards flood relief measures and an immediate release of Rs 2,000 crore.

In a letter to Modi, the text of which was released to the media here, Jayalaltihaa said the supplementary memorandum reflects the damage caused during the fourth spell of rainfall and the consequent floods in the first week of December.

"Tamil Nadu immediately needs an additional sum of Rs 17,431.51 crore for temporary and permanent restoration," Jayalalithaa said.

Including the earlier request of Rs 8,481 crore towards relief and restoration of flood-affected areas, the total amount of central funds the state needs was around Rs 25,912 crore.

Stressing the state government's commitment to rebuilding the infrastructure and reducing people's distress, Jayalalithaa said the costs were very huge and difficult for the state government to meet, after the loss of tax revenue due to the recommendations of the 14th Finance Commission.

Pointing out that the floods in Tamil Nadu have already been declared a "calamity of severe nature", Jayalalithaa requested Modi to instruct the union home ministry and other concerned ministries to consider the state's two memoranda for an assistance of Rs.25,912 crore.

She urged Modi for an immediate release of Rs 2,000 crore from the National Disaster Response Fund.

Heavy rains -- the worst in a century -- battered Chennai and adjoining Kanchipuram, Cuddalore and Thiruvallur districts in the past month resulting in unprecedented floods. Nearly 390 people lost their lives due to the rains.

On November 23, Jayalalithaa sent a memorandum to Modi asking for central funding of Rs 8,481 crore towards flood relief and an immediate relief of Rs 2,000 crore.

Subsequently, a central government team surveyed the flood destruction.

Even after the team's visit, heavy rains continued to hit the four districts.

During Modi's recent visit, he announced a relief of Rs 1,000 crore in addition to the earlier Rs 940 crore.

According to Jayalalithaa, the Rs 940 crore included Rs 133.79 crore of arrears from 2014-15 towards the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and Rs 254.62 crore towards the second installment of SDRF for current fiscal.

IANS