Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday took stock of the flood situation in Tamil Nadu and discussed it with his Cabinet colleagues. Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman later convened a meeting of top brass of forces engaged in rescue and relief operations. The National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC), headed by Cabinet Secretary PK Sinha, also reviewed the situation in a series of meetings to chalk out strategies to deliver all assistance to the Tamil Nadu Government.
Both Houses of Parliament found time to debate on the havoc created by unprecedented rains in Tamil Nadu. “I want to inform the House that today morning the Prime Minister met the Home Minister, Finance Minister and myself and discussed the flood conditions in Tamil Nadu. We exchanged information on the situation,” Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said in the lok Sabha.
Modi had on Tuesday spoken to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa and assured her all possible support and cooperation from the Centre, he said. “I have alerted the Civil Aviation Ministry to send food for the relief camps. Since the runway is full of water, we have to send food and other basic amenities to the people stranded there,” Naidu said.
On a personal note, he said his daughter and granddaughter have sent to him pictures of Chennai and he is “moved by the plight of ordinary people there”. The flood is the worst in 100 years and is unprecedented and unheard of, he said.
While leader of Congress in the lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and Bhartruhari Mahtab (BJD) wanted the discussion to be focussed only on flood situation, Dharmendra Yadav (SP) wanted the House to discuss drought as well. As Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai asked the House to decide on the topic, Kharge remarked that unless Naidu says, the House will not decide. Naidu shot back at Kharge saying “People are getting drowned in flood and still you are after my blood."
Rajnath also spoke to Jayalalithaa and Puducherry Chief Minister N Rangasami. Union Minister JP Nadda too spoke to Tamil Nadu Health Minister C Vijay Baskar assuring all possible help as heavy rains lashed several parts of the state.
In Rajya Sabha, the MPs offered to utilise MPlADS funds for relief and rehabilitation work in the State and some even announced contributions of varying amounts for the cause. CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury said, “We can allow MPlADs funds for relief work in Chennai.”
He said National Disaster Relief Force is stuck in Chennai floods and hence, helicopers should be sent to drop food packets to people. Yechury’s suggestion was supported by leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad.
“I also associate with CPI(M) leader. It (using MPlADs funds) had come to my mind, but as always Yechury takes the lead. On behalf of my party, we will support funds from MPlADS,” he said. To this, Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien said: “All of us are willing to contribute from MPlADS to provide relief to flood-affected Chennai. The amount will be decided in consultation with Chairman.”
During the NCMC meeting, Cabinet Secretary Sinha took stock of the availability of foodgrains in Tamil Nadu and directed Ministries of Food, Agriculture, Health, Telecommunication and others to provide all required assistance to the State Government to deal with the flood situation in Chennai and neraby areas. NCMC also had a video conference with Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary K Gnanadesikan who briefed it on the prevailing situation. Principal Resident Commissioner of Tamil Nadu Jasbir Singh Bajaj attended the meeting.