Thursday, November 3 2005 14:45 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Chennai: The Tamil Nadu Government has sought Rs 1,120 crore from the National calamity contingency fund for relief operations in flood hit areas of the state and in the rain ravaged Chennai city.

In a letter to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa sought massive central aid and requested him to immediately depute an official team to assess the situation in the state.

Her Government, she said, had taken up relief measures on a war footing and had also sanctioned Rs 130 crore for immediate relief and restoration works, covering roads, irrigation systems, tanks and buildings.

Substanial support was necessary from the Centre to continue relief and restoration works, as the state's calamity relief fund had already been exhausted, she said.

Unless substantial allocation was made from the national calamity contingency fund, it would be difficult for the state to tackle the situation, she said, adding that the state Government had made an assessment of the damage and had worked out the cost of undertaking relief and restoration works.

Based on this assessment, a detailed memorandum had been prepared and sent to the Prime Minister along with the letter, she added.