The Hindu : AIADMK, PMK plead for drought relief

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Aug 27, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

AIADMK, PMK plead for drought relief

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI AUG. 26. The AIADMK and the PMK today urged the Centre to release Rs. 720 crores and two lakh tonnes of foodgrains to carry out relief work in the drought-hit areas of Tamil Nadu.

The AIADMK took up the State's case with the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, through a delegation of its Parliamentary party led by P.H. Pandian. The delegation submitted a memorandum similar to the one it had placed before the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, last week.

Mr. Pandian told The Hindu, later that Mr. Advani had agreed to the demand for the release of two lakh tonnes of foodgrains immediately to carry out the food-for-work programme in the drought-hit parts. The memorandum said that 19 districts had been severely affected.

Taking up the matter separately, the Paatali Makkal Katchi (PMK) chief, S. Ramdoss, supported the Tamil Nadu Government's demand for Central assistance for drought relief works. He called on Mr. Vajpayee and Mr. Advani in this connection.

Later Dr. Ramdoss said Tamil Nadu should be declared drought-hit and unless the foodgrains was released, the people living below poverty line in the Cauvery delta area would face hardship.

Referring to the meeting of the Cauvery River Water Authority convened by the Prime Minister tomorrow, Dr. Ramdoss said Mr. Vajpayee should direct Karnataka to release Tamil Nadu's share of the water as per the tribunal's interim award.

Dr. Ramdoss said he urged the Centre to intervene to purchase cloth from the weavers of the State as they had been facing problems ever since the State Government stopped buying cloth for free distribution of dhoti and saree. The Centre should also announce some compensation.

To a question on the abduction of the former Karnataka Minister, H. Nagappa, by Veerappan, the PMK chief said that in a democracy such methods should not be resorted to.

Responding to a suggestion on sending film star Rajnikanth to mediate with Veerappan for the release of the hostage, Dr. Ramdoss said he was in agreement with it. Since Rajnikanth was fluent in both Kannada and Tamil, he could take up the role.

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