CM deputes ministers to dists, postpones visit to Tuesday

“As there were planned programmes for the weekends such as various inauguration functions and distribution of welfare materials, I could not visit the cyclone affected areas. However, I will visit the cyclone affected areas on Tuesday and Wednesday,” he said.

There were criticisms from various quarters that relief materials were not distributed properly to the people and they have not reached everyone. The opposition parties criticised the government that the announcements of distribution of relief materials is only on papers and no work was done on the ground.

To counter the criticisms, Palaniswami said that various Ministers have been designated for all the affected districts and they will coordinate and oversee the rescue and relief measures in the affected districts.

Higher Education Minister KP Anbalagan, Industries Minister MC Sampath and Rural Industries Minister P Benjamin, will monitor the rescue works in Nagapattinam district. For Thanjavur district, School Education Minister KA Sengottaiyan, Veterinary Minister Udumalai Radhakrishnan and Minister for Information and Publicity Kadambur Raju, will oversee the rescue works.

For Tiruvarur district, Minister for Cooperation Sellur Raju and Dairy Minister KT Rajenthra Bhalaji will monitor the rescue operations. Environment Minister KC Karuppannan, Transport Minister MR Vijayabaskar and Minister of Khadi G Baskaran, will camp and oversee the rescue operations in Pudukkottai district, said Palaniswami.

In the meantime, the newly appointed DMDK treasurer Premalatha Vijayakanth will visit the districts affected by Cyclone Gaja, on Monday. A statement, released in the name of DMDK leader, Vijayakanth, said, “Premalatha will meet people affected by Cyclone Gaja and will distribute relief materials to them.” The DMDK men were also asked to distribute relief materials byVijayakanth.