Chennai: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday conducted an aerial survey of flood-affected areas in-and-around Chennai and later met Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and discussed about the extent of damages caused by the Cyclone MIchuang.
Tamil Nadu Minister for Finance & Human Resources Management Thangam Thenarasu and Chief Secretary Shiv Das Meena accompanied the Defence Minister during the aerial survey.
Mr Rajnath Singh also held a meeting with Mr Stalin and reviewed the current situation in the presence of Dr. L.Murugan, Union Minister of State, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying and Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
Talking to reporters after the aerial survey in the presence of Mr.Murugan, the Defence Minister said the Central and state governments are together putting up an effective response to mitigate the crisis.
He said that Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force, Indian Coast Guard, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) & other central agencies are assisting the state government in the relief & rescue operations and leaving no stone unturned to bring back normalcy.
The Defence Minister said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is deeply distressed by loss of lives due to the cyclone and he is closely reviewing the situation.
“The Prime Minister spoke to the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and has assured all possible help from the Central Government”, Mr Rajnath said.
Mr Modi has directed the Union Home Ministry to release in advance the central share of the second installment of State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) of Rs 493.60 crore to Andhra Pradesh and Rs 450 crore to Tamil Nadu.
The Centre had already released its first installment of the same amount to both the states,” he said.
Mr Rajnath Singh further said the Centre has approved the first urban flood mitigation project of Rs. 561.29 crore for ‘Integrated Urban Flood Management activities for Chennai Basin Project’ under the National Disaster Mitigation Fund, which also includes central assistance of Rs 500 crore.
UNI
