Govt 'totally neglected' floot-hit southern districts: Puthiya Tamizhakam party

COIMBATORE: Puthiya Tamizhakam party today charged the Tamil Nadu Government with totally neglecting the rain and flood-hit districts of Tuticorin, Kanyakumari and Tirunelveli in providing relief and financial aid.

PT president and MLA, Dr K Krishnasamy alleged at a press coeference here that the government was fully concentrating on only the northern districts of Chennai, Cuddalore,Thiruvallur, and Kancheepuram. Even the Central Team was not not sent to the Southern Districts to assess the loss, he said.

Representing Ottapidram constituency in Thoothukudi, Krishnasamy said crops like paddy, banana, vegetable and flowers cultivated in five lakh acre were totally damaged in the flood-ravaged districts. Not a single government official had visited the area, at least to console the victims there.

Claiming that the loss of property, including thousands of goats and heads of cattle, would amount to Rs 1,000 crore, he said that at least 75 per cent of the houses, including those built by Government, were damaged in the heavy rains.

He faulted the Government for not lending any helping hand for the rescue, relief and rehabilitation of the people in these districts. It would be very difficult for farmers, traders and small businessmen to get back to their normal lives, he said, adding that the Government, considering their plight, should concentrate on these districts.