Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) founder S. Ramadoss has urged the Centre to declare Cuddalore, a natural calamity-hit district, and sanction Rs.10,000 crore as flood relief to Tamil Nadu.
Speaking to reporters after visiting flood-affected areas on Wednesday, he said the incessant rains that lashed Cuddalore district had left a trail of destruction. Around 74 persons had died in the district alone according to reports.
Dr. Ramadoss said the State government had miserably failed in handling the situation and mitigating the impact before and after the heavy rain that lashed various parts of Tamil Nadu, particularly Chennai, Cuddalore, Tuticorin and Tirunelveli districts. Though the State government claimed that it had Rs.635.54 crore for flood control measures in Cuddalore, Villupuram, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur and Tiruvarur, it had failed to utilise the funds properly, Dr. Ramadoss said. Had the government utilised funds to the tune of Rs.998.81 crore for desilting lakes and waterbodies before the onset of monsoon, the present floods could have been averted. Dr. Ramadoss blamed the management of the Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) for releasing water from the flooded mines affecting people and causing large-scale damage to crops and property.
‘Desilting of waterbodies could have been averted the flood damage'
