Relief fund for rain-hit Tamil Nadu: Jaya requests 2,000 crore; PM orders 940 crore

Chief Minister Jayalalithaa had urged Modi to release Rs 2,000 crore for relief work

New Delhi

: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday ordered release of Rs 940 crore as relief for rain-hit Tamil Nadu as the administration in the state battles to keep things in order. Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa had written a letter to Narendra Modi, urging him to immediately release Rs 2,000 crore to sustain relief work in the start ravaged by floods. He state govt had pegged the damage at Rs 8,481 crore. In her letter to the Prime Minister, she said that 169 lives have been lost in various rain-related incidents since October 1, 2015. The assessment of damages and requirement of funds for immediate relief and restoration of infrastructure which she said had been speedily carried out indicated a much higher financial requirement. "The requirement of funds for immediate rescue and relief and the temporary and permanent restoration of infrastructure has been worked out at Rs.8,481 crore in all. This assessment has been made as an immediate measure since the Government of Tamil Nadu requires assistance from Government of India to meet the very high expenditure requirements that such a severe calamity has caused. The funds required are well beyond the resources available with the state, including the State Disaster Response Fund," the letter said. The CM said many parts of the state had been severely affected due to flooding. One hundred and sixty nine lives were lost during this North East monsoon since October 1 and there was widespread damage to property, including dwelling units and crops.