NEW DELHI: The flood-hit south Indian state of Tamil Nadu is seeking more than US$2.3 billion in funds from the federal government to carry out relief and infrastructure work.
The state capital Chennai and its surrounding areas faced severe flooding in early December in the wake of Cyclone Michaung and now the state’s southern region has been devastated by floods caused by torrential rains in recent days.
Tamil Nadu chief minister M.K. Stalin had a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Tuesday to seek federal funds.
In a memorandum submitted to Modi, the chief minister requested more than 70 billion rupees (about US$847 million) to support people’s livelihoods and for temporary rehabilitation measures.
He sought another 126 billion rupees (about US$1.5 billion) for restoring infrastructure on a long-lasting basis.
While a comprehensive assessment of the damage will take time, the state wants US$240 million in interim funds from the federal government to carry out urgent relief works and infrastructure repairs, according to the letter.
“Following the unprecedented rains caused by Cyclone Michaung, which affected Chennai and its neighbouring districts earlier this month, the southern districts of Tamil Nadu have now experienced historically high rain over the past few days. This has severely impacted the livelihoods of many and caused extensive damage to infrastructure,” Stalin said in a social media post.
Four million people are badly affected in the districts of Tirunelveli and Tuticorin, he said.
Stalin described the flood situation in Srivaikuntam and Tuticorin towns as “extremely serious”.
In a letter to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday, he appealed for deploying more military helicopters to rescue stranded people.
Relief goods have been collected from all over Tamil Nadu but their distribution has been hampered due to inundated roads, Stalin said.
“Given the enormity of the disaster and the large number of habitations to be covered, we need more helicopters for rescue and relief distribution. Hence, I request your urgent intervention to deploy the maximum number of helicopters immediately,” Stalin told Singh in the letter on Tuesday.
Videos posted by the Indian Air Force showed aid packets being dropped from helicopters for people stranded in flooded areas as many awaited rescue. – BERNAMA
