Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman defended the government's response to the recent floods in Tamil Nadu, countering Chief Minister MK Stalin's criticism. Sitharaman addressed the press, pointing out that the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued a forecast on December 12, five days before the extreme rainfall that claimed 31 lives.
Sitharaman took a dig at CM Stalin, highlighting his absence in Tamil Nadu during the crisis due to his attendance at the INDIA bloc meeting in Delhi. She emphasized that while Tamil Nadu was grappling with heavy rain, the chief minister was engaged in meetings in the capital.
The Finance Minister clarified that the Regional Meteorological Centre in Chennai had predicted heavy rainfall on December 12, specifically mentioning the affected districts. Sitharaman also stated that the Centre had promptly released ₹900 crore in the current financial year to address the flood aftermath, criticizing the state's failure to learn from the 2015 Chennai floods.
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Sitharaman expressed disappointment in the delay in CM Stalin's visit to the affected districts, suggesting his priorities were misplaced. She underlined that the entire earmarked fund of ₹900 crore had been released to Tamil Nadu, with the first installment of ₹450 crore released before the cyclone. The Finance Minister urged a collective effort in addressing the aftermath of the floods, emphasizing the need for effective coordination and response.
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