TN seeks Rs 9,000 crore grant from Centre for Ockhi damage

Addressing the media after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s interaction with the kin of fishermen and farmers, Palaniswami said he submitted a memorandum to the Central government with a demand to announce Ockhi a national disaster. 

The State wanted Rs 5,255 crore to undertake permanent rehabilitation in Kanniyakumari and Rs 4,047 crore to cater to other parts of the state, including Chennai, affected by the north east monsoon. 

He also said that the state has demanded Rs 747 crore immediately from the National Disaster Relief Fund. Palaniswami said that for an integrated fishing harbour with telecommunication services, fish processing centre and cold storage centre and to build walls to prevent erosion in the coast in Kanniyakumari district, a fund of Rs 4,218 crore has been sought from the Centre. The State also wants satellite radio channel and high frequency wireless sets with 90 per cent Central government subsidy, he added.