CM Edappadi K Palaniswami flies to Delhi, will meet PM for Gaja relief
The official sources said the CM will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his residence at about 9.45 a.m.
Chennai: Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami left for New Delhi Wednesday evening and will brief the Prime Minister on the devastation caused by Cyclone Gaja. He will seek a comprehensive Central assistance package to meet the pressing demands from the people of the affected areas, official sources said.
They said the CM will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his residence at about 9.45 a.m. Thursday and will present detailed report with photographs showing the extensive damage to property, coconut trees, paddy fields and loss of human lives. He had toured the affected areas and announced that the government would certainly take steps to get Central funds and submit details of the damage with proof. The state government has released Rs 1,000 crore from the State Disaster Response Fund to the cyclone affected districts to carry out relief and rehabilitation measures which include solatium to the kin of dead, damage for crops, trees and houses.
Several lakh acres of coconut trees and banana plantations were uprooted the Gaja-hit districts down south, particularly Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam, where Gaja had made landing on Nov. 16.
Meanwhile, Governor Banwarilal Purohit toured the Gaja-hit areas including Vedaranyam and Pushpavanam in Nagapattinam district, where Gaja made the landing, and distributed assistance to people. He also inspected food preparations at the relief centres and interacted with doctors at a medical camp.
Speaking to reporters, the Governor said, "As far as food is concerned it is being supplied everywhere, rice is available and administration is doing whatever is possible. I appreciate their zeal, dedication and work."
On the questions posed to him by the affected people, he said, "they wanted tarpaulins and some money." Purohit said he had told the people to be patient for a few days and that the administration would deliver on their requirements.
Meanwhile, DMK treasurer Duraimurugan handed over a cheque for Rs 1 crore towards cyclone relief to CM.