DMK MLAs, MPs to allot Rs 10 crore from LAD funds

Ooty: The DMK president M.K. Stalin, who wound up his two-day tour of flood affected areas in the Nilgiris on Monday afternoon, said that MPs' and MLAs' from the DMK would allot Rs 10 crore from their respective local area development fund for relief works in the hill district.  

Mr A. Raja, the Nilgiris MP, will allot Rs 3 crore from his MP local area development fund. Likewise, Mr.M. Thiravidamni, DMK MLA of Gudalur will allot Rs 3 crore from his local area development fund. This apart, Rs 5 crore allotment will be sourced from Rajya Sabha members of the DMK from their local area development fund, he added.

Speaking to media persons at Emerald near here, he said that the DMK party has already distributed a solatium of Rs. one lakh each to the families of six persons who died in the recent torrential rains in the Nilgiris. Government should provide government jobs to the family members of these flood victims.  Necessary compensation should be given to flood affected fields, he added.

The heavy rains caused heavy damage to roads and residences of the poor in many places across Ooty, Kundah, Gudalur and Pandalur taluks in the Nilgiris. Government should take steps on a war-footing for relief works. Had government taken precautionary measures, damage could have been averted to a certain extent. A couple of ministers made quick visits and left without assessing the widespread damage, he charged.

He said that he would write to the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister on the flood situation in the Nilgiris and the steps to be taken for relief measures. Government should construct quarters at a safer place for TNEB staff working at the hydro-power station at Avalanche, besides taking steps for storm water management in the needed areas, he added.