Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman addressed a press conference on Friday (22 December 2023) to brief about the Central Government’s response to the recent floods that struck Chennai and southern districts of Tamil Nadu.
Addressing the media in New Delhi, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that the Centre has disbursed ₹900 crore in two installments for Tamil Nadu in the current fiscal year.
She said that the DMK government in Tamil Nadu failed to take adequate precautions steps to tackle the monsoons adding that no lessons had been learnt from the 2015 floods.
Sitharaman emphasized the advanced capabilities of the Regional Meteorological Centre in Chennai, including three dopplers, which accurately predicted heavy rainfall in specified districts.
She refuted claims by DMK Minister Mano Thangaraj regarding delayed weather updates, asserting that the Centre’s assistance in 2015 should have been effectively utilized by the Tamil Nadu government.
“Initially, a minister said 92% of ₹4,000 crore given for Chennai basin deveopment was spent. After the floods, the government says only 42% has been spen so far. If the funds were utilised properly, the rain impact would not have turned this bad.“, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said.
Sitharaman clarified that there is no official term “National disaster” and highlighted the absence of such declarations even for Uttarakhand, emphasizing the need for states to follow disaster announcement guidelines.
Responding to Stalin’s allegations of inadequate relief funds, she countered that the state government is using its own funds for relief work. She also hit back at CM MK Stalin saying that when disaster struck the southern districts of Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi, he was in Delhi to participate in the I.N.D.I. Alliance meeting.
“Despite us giving warning 5 days ago on 12 December 2023, and saying they would’ve done a great job if accurate forecasts with cm-wise data were given, the same Chief Minister, the same Hon’ble Chief Minister.. We were sending NDRF teams then. Where was the Hon’ble CM? Unprecedented historic rains in 4 districts of the state. People are suffering. Instead of being on the ground and demanding the Centre to send NDRF teams, he was in Delhi. After 3 days he is visiting Tirunelveli and speaking, we will respectfully listen to it. But he was here for the whole day for the meeting (I.N.D.I. Alliance) and seeks time to meet the PM just on the go, and the PM had obliged to his request despite being late at night. I can understand what his (Stalin’s) priorities are.” she took a jibe at MK Stalin.
“At a time when disaster struck, CM was sitting with I.N.D.I Alliance.”, Nirmala Sitharaman hit back.
தென் மாவட்டங்களில் வரலாறு காணாத மழையின் போது மக்களோடு மக்களாக நில்லாமல், இந்தி கூட்டணி பேச்சுவார்த்தைக்கு டெல்லி வந்திருந்தார் தமிழக முதல்வர் திரு முக ஸ்டாலின் – மாண்புமிகு மத்திய நிதி அமைச்சர் திருமதி @nsitharaman அவர்கள். pic.twitter.com/TQpghGssBD
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) December 22, 2023
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