Financial aid of Rs 1146 crores approved by centre for Gaja relief
Posted on: 01/Jan/2019 10:39:21 AM
The cyclone Gaja destroyed as many as 12 districts in the state of Tamil Nadu. For permanent restoration of these 12 districts in TN, chief minister of TN, Mr. E. Palaniswamy, has sought a massive amount of RS 15000 crores is known. It is now revealed that on Monday, 31st December 2018, the Centre has sanctioned just Rs 1146 crores. The intensity of cyclone Gaja was such that it had left trail of destruction and about 4 lakh people became homeless. The TN state had huge hopes on the financial assistance provided by the centre but due to the lesser than expected amount sanctioned by the centre, the government of TN is disappointed now. According to senior minister, Mr. D. Jayakumar, the amount sanctioned now is not enough. He then added that pressure would be given to the centre so that full amount would be sanctioned. It must be taken into account that the government estimate for the permanent restoration of power infrastructure and housing alone was Rs 13000 crores. He highlighted that the state government would have huge financial burden now.
The important point to be mentioned here is TN government demanded funds to construct multi-hazard resistant houses for about 2 lakh people, multi hazard resistant power lines in the coastal districts, special package for free distribution of milch cattle and sheep or goats. It also included a scheme for poultry development to support landless farm workers. There were also complaints from many TN ministers regarding poor financial assistance provided by the centre in the past for cyclone Vardah, cyclone Ockhi and for 2015 year floods etc.
It is revealed that a high level committee chaired by union home minister, Mr. Rajnath Singh sanctioned the additional financial assistance of Rs 1146.12 crores from the National Disaster Response Fund or NDRF. The centre released an amount of Rs 353.7 crores from the State Disaster Response Fund or SDRF. SDRF is provided as per the recommendations of the finance commission in two instalments and NDRF is provided over and above SDRF. It is now said by the sources belonging to the government of TN that union agriculture minister informed orally that it would provide an amount of Rs 173 crores for damage to agriculture and horticulture crops. Heavy loss in the coconut, banana, cashew and sugarcane plantations was reported. It is important to note that PMK leader, Mr. S. Anbumani Ramadoss was unhappy regarding the financial assistance sanctioned by the centre and he said that the assistance from centre was unacceptable.
