Jayalalitha Seeks Rs 25,912 Crore to Rebuild Flood-Stricken State

The state is asking for central govts help to redevelop the flood-ravaged region.

J Jayalalithaa, Chief Minister, Tamil Nadu. (Photo: Reuters) 

With the unprecedented deluge leaving a trail of destruction and devastation in Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has asked Central assistance of Rs 25,912 crore towards restoration.

Jayalalithaa has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting assistance, saying it was ‘difficult’ for state government to meet the costs, especially after suffering ‘huge loss’ of Central tax devolution.

These costs are very large and it is very difficult for the Government of Tamil Nadu to meet the cost, particularly after the huge loss of Central tax devolution and transfers suffered by the state consequent on the 14th Finance Commission’s recommendations.

<b>Excerpt from Chief Minister Jayalalitha’s letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi</b>

She has also mentioned the November memorandum mentioning total losses suffered at Rs 8,481 crore, following which a Central team had visited Tamil Nadu to make on-spot assessment.

An NDRF official (right) arrives to rescue a boy who fell while wading through flood waters in Chennai. (Photo: AP)

However, those valuation of losses had to be revised post the fourth spell of rain in the region that was the most severe of the lot. This stretch of rainfall resulted in severe flooding of Chennai, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts even as Cuddalore had also been affected.

We have now prepared the supplementary memorandum which reflects damages caused during the fourth spell of rainfall and the consequent floods in the first week of December 2015. Tamil Nadu immediately needs an additional sum of Rs 17,431.51 crore for temporary and permanent restoration

<b> Excerpt from Chief Minister Jayalalitha’s Letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi</b>

With the government will now send a fresh memorandum requesting a sum of Rs 25,912.45 crore – including the earlier Rs 8,481 crore.

I request you to kindly instruct the Ministry of Home Affairs and the other concerned Ministries to expeditiously consider our two memoranda for assistance on account of flood damages and devastation and release the necessary funds at the earliest to meet the state government’s requirement of Rs 25,912.45 crore

<b> Excerpt from Chief Minister Jayalalitha’s Letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi</b>

Referring to her plea for an immediate release of Rs 2,000 crore made with Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in Chennai on Sunday, she has urged PM Modi to instruct the Finance Ministry to hasten the process.