Tamil Nadu government has sought an estimated Rs 8500 crore relief package from the central government.
Tamil Nadu floods have been declared a "calamity of severe nature" by the Centre, Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa said today. This comes a day after she wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking him to declare the floods in the state a "national calamity".
"Heeding my request, the central government has declared the floods (and resultant) damage as Calamity of Severe Nature," Ms Jayalalithaa said in a statement in Chennai.
The AIADMK chief also added that through a circular the Parliament's secretariat has allowed MPs to use Rs 1 crore from their constituency development fund. She has also asked her party MPs to allot the amount for relief in flood affected areas.
Chennai and flood-affected districts in Tamil Nadu are limping back to normalcy after being battered by two consecutive floods in two weeks. Over 300 people have died in flood related incidents across the state.
Tamil Nadu government has sought an estimated Rs 8500 crore relief package from the central government. The Centre has so far allotted Rs 1940 crore though Chief Minister Jayalalithaa had sought an immediate relief of 2000 crore.
The floods have destroyed the life savings of a lot of people in the state. In a letter, Ms Jayalalithaa has also asked the PM to ask insurance companies to expedite claims in a week. The Chief Minister also wants Rs 5 lakh soft loan given to rain-affected families to help them buy essential items.
The state government has announced a free home and a relief of Rs 10,000 to those who have lost their huts. Those who suffered partial damage of huts would receive Rs 5,000. However, the rain-affected people have called it a mockery, saying the government is not understanding the extent of loss they have suffered.