CHENNAI, DEC 19   :   Seeking to declare the rain-hit areas in the state as a natural calamity, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K.Stalin late on Tuesday night met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and sought an immediate release of Rs 9,033 crore for relief works in Cyclone hit Chennai and neighbouring districts and four southern districts.

Mr Stalin also submitted a memorandum to him in which he has sought a permanent 
relief of Rs 12,659 crore for restoration works in Chennai and three neighbouring
districts, apart from Rs 2,000 crore funds in the first phase to restore the livelihood
of people affected in four southern districts during the last two days.

In the memorandum, Mr Stalin, as requested an assistance of Rs 12,659 crore,
including Rs 7,033 crore immediate interim relief, to the Central team that toured the
Cyclone-battered districts of Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur and Chengalpattu
earlier this month, also urged Mr Modi to release Rs 2,000 crore for restoring the
livelihood of people in the four southern districts from the National disaster Relief
Fund.

He said while the Chennai and neighbouring districts had received unprecedented
rains in view of the Cyclone that was never witnessed in 47 years, the southern
districts of Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Tenkasi and Kanniyakumari had received
extreme to very extreme rains that was never seen in the last more than 100 years
causing extensive damages to various infrastructure facilities.
Mr Stalin in the memorandum, while seeking Rs 12,659 crore for permanent relief
for Chennai and its adjoining districts, urged Mr Modi to release an immediate
interim assistance of Rs 7,033 crore for these districts, besides a separate
allocation of Rs 2,000 core for the rain-battered four southern districts, which
works out to a total of Rs 9,033 crore as interim assistance.

He also urged Mr Modi to declare the rain calamity in the state as a national disaster.
Meanwhile, a Central team, led by top official Mr Deo landed in Madurai tonight
and will inspect the rain affected southern districts tomorrow.

In view of the Central team’s visit, Mr Stalin, who was scheduled to visit the flood
hit southern districts tomorrow, has postponed his tour to Thursday.

An official release here Mr Stalin, upon reaching in Chennai tomorrow, will review
the flood situation in the southern districts, and reach Madurai tomorrow night and
later leave for the worst-hit Tuticorin district and Tirunelveli on thursday to make an
on the spot assessment of the damages caused by the record rains.

After the visit and after a meeting with the Central team, the Chief Minister is expected
to prepare a detailed report on the damages caused in the southern districts and seek
Central funds for rescue and rehabilitation works, apart from the already sought Rs 12,659
crore for Chennai and its neighbouring districts.(UNI)