Chennai: With the unprecedented deluge leaving a trail of destruction and devastation in Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa today sought Central assistance of Rs 25,912 crore towards restoration, saying it was ‘difficult’ for state Government to meet the costs, especially after suffering ‘huge loss’ of Central tax devolution.
In a letter to PM Narendra Modi, she said her government was committed to rebuilding infrastructure and reducing the distress caused to people due to floods by providing ‘gratuitous relief’ for affected families.
“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,” she said.
The CM recalled that her government had earlier submitted a memorandum totalling the losses suffered at Rs 8,481 crore in November, following which a Central team had also visited Tamil Nadu to make on-spot assessment.
Referring to the heavy downpour on December 1,which resulted in severe flooding of Chennai, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts even as Cuddalore had also been affected. (PTI)
