Chennai floods: Central team meets Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa to assess damage

CHENNAI: An eight-member inter-ministerial team deputed by the Centre to assess the flood damage in Tamil Nadu today met Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa who asked them to make an "in-depth assessment" and submit its report to the Union Home Ministry "expeditiously."

The team, led by T V S N Prasad, Joint Secretary in the Union Home Ministry, also praised the state government for the rescue, relief and restoration work.

Jayalalithaa, who has demanded a Central assistance of Rs 25,912 crore, told the visiting team of officials that the requirement of funds for relief and restoration of infrastructure "are well beyond the resources available with the state."

She requested the Central team "to make an in-depth assessment of the damage suffered by the state and to submit its report to the Ministry of Home Affairs expeditiously."

Jayalalithaa's address to the Central team was released by the government to the media.

The Chief Minister detailed the damage suffered by the state in December following which it had submitted a demand for Rs 25,912 crore, and also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for deputing the Central team once again which will be visiting affected areas today and tomorrow.

Besides Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, Cuddalore, Tirunelveli and Tuticorin districts had bore the brunt of the torrential rains during the North East monsoon last year.

The team, led by Prasad, had earlier also visited the state and made an assessment of damage.

During the meeting with Jayalalithaa, Prasad said the state government was "successful in preventing outbreak of any epidemic by timely measures such as chlorination and health camps."

"There was widespread appreciation in the Ministries of Government of India about the prompt manner in which the state government machinery rose to the occasion and attended to rescue, relief and restoration work," he was quoted as saying.