Centre announces ood relief only after T.N. moves court: CM
People are watching the Centre’s betrayal, says Stalin; AIADMK leader EPS says funds received by T.N. have always been lesser than what it sought
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Saturday said that though the State had asked for ₹37,907 crore in «ood relief from the Centre, it had announced just ₹276 crore, that too after the State government approached the court.
“Centre’s announcement has proved that Tamil Nadu will neither get justice nor nance. People are closely watching the Centre’s betrayal,” he posted on X (formerly Twitter). Mr. Stalin said the State government had so far spent ₹2,477 crore to provide immediate relief and build infrastructure.
In Salem, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami said that the Union government did not provide funds sought by the State government towards «ood or cyclone damage.
According to him, after cyclones, every government provides the data on damage and seeks funds from the Centre. In response, the Centre would always release lesser funds than what was sought. The State governments seek relief based on temporary
CM M.K. Stalin says the State government has so far spent ₹2,477 crore to provide immediate relief and build infrastructure, following the floods last year.
and permanent damage. In the case of temporary damage, funds from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) would be utilised, but for permanent damage, the State would seek funds from the National Disaster Relief Fund (NDRF). If the damage comes under the NDRF norms, the Centre would sanction funds, he said.
Pointing out that there was a di¥erence between drought relief and «ood relief, Mr. Palaniswami said that for the damage caused by «oods or cyclones, the SDRF funds should be used. During the AIADMK regime, the State government faced various cyclones and the Centre had
not released the funds sought by the State. Compared to those, the damage was less now and the people were only a¥ected by the «oods, he added.
TNCC ays decision
TNCC president K. Selvaperunthagai said such denial of funds “shows how the BJP government is meting out a step-motherly treatment to Tamil Nadu”. “The Central government has refused to set aside money for the State from the NDRF,” he said.
Mr. Selvaperunthagai also alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was shedding crocodile tears when he spoke fondly about Tamil people.