NEW DELHI: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and sought £2.26 billion relief packages for the cyclone-hit areas in the state. He briefed Modi on the ongoing restoration works following the devastating impact of Cyclone Vardah. He even submitted a memorandum, seeking disaster relief from the Centre.
Vardah that hit the state on December 12, brought with it massive destruction, particularly in Chennai and other northern areas. Panneerselvam visited all the cyclone-hit districts including Chennai, Kancheepuram, and Tiruvallur and reviewed the relief operations. During his whirlwind visit, he visited the Ripon Building and held a meeting with officials, visited a relief centre at Manali, met fishermen leaders in Koonanguppam and inspected the damaged boats and distributed relief material in two camps.
The CM also convened a meeting at the Sub Collector Office at Ponneri, Tiruvallur, which is also severely hit by the cyclone. He also visited relief centres and distributed materials in Kancheepuram district. Before leaving to review the places, he had met with Forest Minister Dindigul C. Sreenivasan, PWD Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami, Revenue Minister R.B. Udhayakumar, Chief Secretary P. Rama Mohana Rao and Director General of Police T.K. Rajendran and senior officials and reviewed the situation.
Later in a release, he said around 450 transformers, 10,000 electric posts and three high-mast transmission towers has been damaged in Chennai, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts and that 9,000 workers were engaged to restore the services. Power supply was restored in Chennai and the situation became normal in all areas. However, he said that it would take a couple of days to restore power supply on the outskirts of Chennai and Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram districts. The Chief Minister said extensive damage has been caused to huts, drinking water infrastructure and sewerage facilities.
The PM's visit came amid a growing voice to install VK Sasikala at the helm of the Tamil Nadu government. Top leaders of the ruling AIADMK, including Panneerselvam and Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai, met Sasikala at her Chennai residence and urged her to lead both, the party and the government.
