Make in-depth assessment of damage, Jaya to central team

The Tamil Nadu government on Thursday asked a visiting central team to make an in-depth assessment of the damage suffered by the state due to torrential rains and submit its report “expeditiously” for release of financial assistance without any delay.

Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa said the state had already received rainfall in excess of what it gets during the entire north-east monsoon.

Addressing the inter-ministerial central team led by Joint Secretary in the Union Home Ministry TVSN Prasad, she said the requirement of funds for relief and restoration of infrastructure was “well beyond the resources available with the state”.

“I, therefore, request the central team to make an in-depth assessment of the damages suffered by the state and to submit its report to the Ministry of Home Affairs expeditiously, so that the Government of India would be able to release central financial assistance without any delay,” she said.

The team, deputed yesterday by the Union government, met Jayalalithaa at the Secretariat here.

Thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for deputing the team which consists of members from different central departments, she told them that they can see first hand the widespread damage to property including dwelling units and crops, infrastructure including roads and bridges, “which have been battered in many areas”.

“You will also be able to see the exemplary rescue and relief work which was undertaken by the state agencies,” she said. A copy of her address was released to the media.