CM joins issue with Karunanidhi on flood relief, says farmers will be given aid only after crop damage assessment

CHENNAI: Joining issue with DMK leader M Karunanidhi over his criticism on flood relief measures, Tamil Nadu chief minister O Panneerselvam on Wednesday said the government would extend relief to the farmers towards crop damage only after an assessment was made.
“The fact is that standing crops raised in about 53,000 acres is submerged in water. The damage can be assessed only after the water level recedes,” he said.
The DMK leader had earlier alleged that paddy crops raised in six lakh acres in the delta region were submerged in water and criticised the ministers and officials for not visiting the affected areas.
Taking potshots at the DMK chief for his alleged participation in film functions when the state was reeling under flood crisis in 2010, Panneerselvam drew parallel between Karunanidhi and Roman emperor Nero who played the fiddle when Rome was burned.
“Even if he daydreams of becoming a hero by deliberately casting aspersions on the AIADMK regime, he will get only zero. Hence, Karunanidhi should resist from levelling false allegations for political gains,” the chief minister said.
The chief minister said high-ranking officials had been deputed to 20 rain-affected districts to oversee relief and rehabilitation initiatives.
Reacting to DMK leader’s statement that he had offered his MLA constituency development funds to restore the collapsed wall of Kamalalayam, the tank of the Thiyagaraja Swamy Temple in his home constituency, Thiruvarur, Panneerselvam said the state had already taken up work at an estimated cost of Rs 1.6 crore to restore northern bank collapsed a few years ago. The western bank that got collapsed in recent rains would be restored after floating tenders.