A day after presenting a deficit budget in the Legislative Assembly, Tamil Nadu Finance Minister D. Jayakumar met Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in Delhi and urged him to release funds sought for the damage incurred due to Cyclone Vardah and to tide over the drought situation in the State.
“We had sought ₹39,565 crore as drought relief and ₹22,573 crore as relief for the damage suffered due to Cyclone Vardah. We requested the Union Finance Minister to release the funds at the earliest. We have also sought that the Central share of about ₹5,145 crore due under various schemes be released immediately,” Mr. Jayakumar told reporters after the meeting.
“Mr. Jaitley heard our representation and said that a nodal officer would be appointed to ensure the release of funds due to Tamil Nadu,” he said.
Health Minister C. Vijaya Baskar, Housing Minister Udumalai K. Radhakrishnan and Tamil Nadu Special Representative in Delhi N. Thalavai Sundaram accompanied Mr. Jayakumar during the meeting with Mr. Jaitley. The Ministers and senior officials of the State government called on Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and held discussions with her.
