Modi gives Tamil Nadu Rs 940 crore but rain shows no mercy

CHENNAI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi responded promptly to chief minister J Jayalalithaa's request on Monday for immediate funds for flood relief and rescue operations in Tamil Nadu, directing his government to sanction 939.63 crore to the rainfall-pummelled state.
The CM, whose government is facing an unprecedented crisis, the response to which could well be a test of her governance, had in a letter to the PM in the morning asked the Centre for 2,000 crore as interim flood relief, for relief and rescue missions.
Modi's response was not only quick, reflecting the personal rapport he shares with Jayalalithaa, but magnanimous - the Centre allocated funds almost twice as much as the 500 crore the previous UPA government granted during Cyclone Thane in 2012 after TN sought 5,249 crore.
With the state reeling from more heavy showers on Monday and the Met office forecasting more rainfall ahead, Jayalalithaa in a detailed letter to the Prime Minister noted that the floods had already claimed 169 lives and estimated the state's requirement of funds for immediate rescue and relief and temporary and permanent restoration of infrastructure at Rs 8,481 crore.
Clearly under pressure to respond with alacrity to the situation, the chief minister said the state required immediate relief "to sustain relief and restoration operations" with vigour.
Based on the Prime Minister's instructions, the Centre will immediately release Rs 939.63 crore to the state to help flood relief operations, a statement by the Union government's Press Information Bureau said. "The funds were sanctioned in response to the request of the Tamil Nadu government," it said, adding that the Centre will depute a team of officials to the state to assess the damage.
The Centre will take further action after the team submits its report, the statement said.
In her letter to Modi, Jayalalithaa said the rainfall was extremely heavy and lasted for several days. "Despite all the efforts of the state government, it has left a trail of damage and destruction," she said.
The chief minister enclosed a detailed assessment of the damage caused by the flooding, calculating the funds that the state requires. A delegation led by Tamil Nadu special representative S T K Jakkayan handed over the letter to the Prime Minister's Office.
Jayalalithaa said the northeast monsoon has caused widespread damage to property and crops. In the first 20 days of November, she said, Chennai recorded the second most rainfall recorded in the past century. Neyveli received 43.7cm on November 9 alone, Jayalalithaa said, adding that the state's roads, bridges, drains, water supply and sewerage systems and the electricity network had taken a battering in several districts.
Recalling that she had sanctioned Rs 500 crore for immediate relief, Jayalalithaa said a more recent assessment by the state government showed that the damage was so severe that it required much more funding to for flood relief measures.
"The funds required are well beyond the resources available with the state, including the state disaster response fund," she said.
The chief minister pointed out that the Met office has forecast that more rain-bearing weather systems will develop over the state that are likely to increase the damage that the state has sustained.
She said rescue teams have relocated more than 4 lakh people to safer places across the state and officials set up relief camps to provide food and shelter to the displaced.
Jayalalithaa thanked the Centre for contributing to the "tireless rescue and relief operations conducted against heavy odds", saying the state appreciated the help that central forces like the National Disaster Response Force, Army, Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard provided.