The waterlogged parking space of an apartment in Chennai. Photo V. Sriram
New Delhi/Chennai: The Prime Minister today approved the first urban flood mitigation project of Rs. 561.29 crore, under the National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF), for the ‘Integrated Urban Flood Management Activities for Chennai Basin Project’, which also includes Central assistance of Rs. 500 crore, Union Home Minister Amit Shah disclosed today.
“Chennai is facing major floods, the third such occurring in the last eight years. We are witnessing more instances of metropolitan cities receiving excessive rainfall, leading to sudden flooding,” Shah recalled in his X post.
At least 17 lives were lost in the last five days in the city ravaged by severe cyclone Michaung which has affected Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. At least 27 people reportedly died in these two states due to the cyclonic storm which made landfall between Nellore and Kavali in Andhra Pradesh, which neighbours Chennai, at about 1 p.m. local time on December 5, 2023. Thousands of people were evacuated to relief camps.
Also read: Severe Cyclone ‘Michaung’ to hit Tamil Nadu, Andhra coast
“Though the extent of damage is varied, many areas of these states are inundated, thus affecting standing crops,” Shah said. He announced that to help the state Governments with the management of relief necessitated by the cyclonic storm, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had directed his Ministry to release in advance the central share of the 2nd instalment 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 the 1st instalment of the same amount to both States.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, today conducted an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas in and around Chennai. He also held a meeting with the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu MK Stalin and reviewed the current situation. Stalin on December 6 had written to the Prime Minister, seeking an immediate interim relief fund of Rs 5060 crores amid the destruction caused by the cyclone in his state.
Talking to reporters after the aerial survey, Singh said that the Central and state governments are together putting up an effective response to mitigate the crisis. He added that the 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.
– global bihari bureau
