In a letter to Rajnath Singh, he further noted that the current process for requesting the inter-ministerial team’s visit takes at least 2-3 weeks.
New Delhi| Following a trail of destruction left by Cyclone Gaja that hit Tamil Nadu on Thursday, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram has asked Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to deploy a team for inspection of damage in the region. On Saturday, Chidambaram said that he has urged Rajnath Singh to deploy a team of two officers for damage assessment caused by cyclone Gaja.
Tweeting about the same, he said, “I have requested HOME MINISTER through Home Secretary to depute a team of two officers immediately to visually inspect the extent of damage caused by cyclone Gaja (sic).” He also asked Singh to modify the practice related to sending an inter-ministerial team to the disaster-affected state. Currently, the disaster-affected state has to submit a memorandum. Only then, the central government considers sending an inter-ministerial team to inspect the disaster-hit areas.
I have requested HOME MINISTER through Home Secretary to depute a team of two officers immediately to visually inspect the extent of damage caused by Cyclone Gaja
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) November 17, 2018
He further noted that the current process takes at least 2-3 weeks and the repair and restoration work makes it difficult to measure the damages done by the disaster. “I have appealed to MHA (Ministry of Home Affairs) to modify the practice,” he said.
The usual practice is for the State to submit a memorandum and a visit by the inter-ministerial team. That takes at least 2-3 weeks and full impact of the disaster is not measurable because of repair and restoration work
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) November 17, 2018
As on Friday, the death toll due to the Cyclone Gaja has reached 28. Over 81,000 lives have been affected since last two days. Winds gusting up to 120 kmph uprooted trees, snapped electric cables and blew off roofing-sheets.
According to officials, ten men and three women died and 28 head of cattle perished in cyclone-related incidents despite authorities evacuating as many as 81,948 people to 471 relief centers in Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Ramanathapuram, Thanjavur, Pudukottai and Tiruvarur districts.
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