CHENNAI: Responding to allegations of Deputy Leader of Opposition S Ramachandran, that no help was extended to the people affected by cyclone Thane for two or three days after it crossed the State, Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Tuesday, said that, on the contrary, the Tamil Nadu government had acted swiftly to restore normalcy.Reminding the Assembly of the scale of the disaster, the CM said, “It is very easy to level a charge. I dare the Deputy Leader of Opposition to show any other State which has acted with such a swiftness to restore normalcy in the areas worst affected by a natural calamity. Despite all the works done by the Tamil Nadu government, they may still be some lacunae. But I shall let the State Assembly know on February 4 what was done so far and what more is to be done for the people affected by Thane. The announcements to be made by me will astonish everyone,” the CM said.Pointing out that the government machinery had swung into action within 24 hours to clear more than 35,000 electric poles and thousands of trees uprooted by the cyclone, which were blocking roads, the Chief Minister said that essentials like food items were distributed to the people immediately after. Without clearing these blocks on roads, how could help reach the people, she asked. Besides, power supply for domestic consumption and agricultural pump sets were restored to all parts of Thane-affected areas by January 30, she said.Ramachandran clarified that he did not say that nothing was done. But as an Opposition party leader, he had the duty to bring the shortcomings to the notice of the State government, so that they may be set right. Ramachandran, in fact, said that considering the extent of damage caused, the Centre should have played a bigger role in relief works, which unfortunately it failed to do.
Comments
0 comment