Rs 940 Crore is No Relief, Jaya Tells Modi

Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Wednesday explained to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the `940 crore already released.

CHENNAI:  Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Wednesday explained to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the `940 crore already released after the Tamil Nadu government submitted a memorandum on November 23 included arrears to be disbursed by the Union government towards the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and special assistance compensating the State for the loss consequent upon the recommendations of the 14th Finance Commission. “This amount is intended for specific projects and not for flood relief,” she clarified. 

During the discussions with the Prime Minister, the Chief Minister recalled that the State government had sought `8,481 crore for immediate rescue and restoration works and `2,000 crore in advance. Thanking the Prime Minister for releasing `940 crore and deputing a Central team to assess the damage, she pointed out that the `940 crore comprised `133.79 crore arrears from 2014-15 towards the SDRF, and `254.62 crore towards the second instalment of SDRF for the current year. Against these amounts, the State government had already incurred expenditure from the SDRF.

“The package of `940 crore included `552 crore released as special assistance compensating TNfor the loss consequent upon the recommendations of the 14th Finance Commission. This amount is intended for specific projects and not for flood relief,” she observed.