Response comes after Chief Minister EK Palaniswami accuses Centre of not sanctioning funds
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday assured Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami of all possible assistance from the Centre to the cyclone-hit state.
Modi’s response came after Palaniswami accused the Centre of not sanctioning funds sought for the relief and rehabilitation in the wake of natural disasters. The cyclone has claimed the lives of 32 people so far.
“Spoke to the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Thiru Edappadi K. Palaniswami regarding the situation arising due to cyclone conditions in the state. Assured all possible help from the Centre. I pray for the safety and well-being of the people of Tamil Nadu,” Modi tweeted. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh also spoke to Palaniswami. He also asked the Home Secretary to monitor the situation and provide all help to the state administration.
An official release of the state government said a “detailed report” will be sent to the Centre on the damage caused by the severe cyclonic storm. “Chief Minister Palaniswami explained in detail the measures taken by the state government (to union home minister), the damage caused by ‘Gaja’, and the relief measures being taken up on a war-footing,” it read.
Earlier in the day, Palaniswami told reporters in Salem that the Centre sanctioned only specific amount in the past for the natural disasters and the state was meeting the expenses on such matters from its funds. “This central government (NDA) has also not given. To my knowledge, the previous (UPA) government has also not sanctioned the entire amount (as demanded by Tamil Nadu) following the cyclone. We gave the estimate. They only allocated a specified sum. We are spending from the state funds only,” Palaniswami said.
TRACKING THE DISASTER
- An official release in Chennai said a “detailed report” will be sent to the Centre on the damage caused by the severe cyclonic storm
- Palaniswami said the Centre sanctioned only a specific amount in the past for the natural disasters and the state was meeting such expenses from its funds
- He was responding to queries on if the Centre had released the entire amount for post-Vardah relief activities in 2016
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