Edappadi presents 106-page memorandum to Modi

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Monday appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to immediately release relief funds for the drought-hit state and for the damage caused by Cyclone Vardah.

He presentd a 106-page memorandum to the PM, which had many demands of Tamil Nadu.

Reiterating the state's demand, Palaniswami sought Rs 39,565 crore as drought relief package and Rs 22,573 for the damage in the cyclone.

Palanisami also pressed for the formation of a Cauvery Management Board and Cauvery Water Regulation Committee for the implementation of the final order of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal.

In a memorandum presented to Modi during his 30 minute meeting with him in New Delhi this evening, the first after he assumed office on February 16 and won the floor test two days later, Palaniswami urged him to instruct the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas to take any further action in this regard only after adequate consultation with stakeholders and ensuring that the interests of the farmers were fully safeguarded.

''It will not be advisable for ONGC to proceed with any mining activity in Neduvasal village without clearance from the State Government'', he added.

This is first official visit of Palaniswami after he replaced O Panneerselvam as the Chief Minister. A statement issued by the Tamil Nadu Information and Public Relations Department said that the Chief Minister raised a number of issues with the Prime Minister.

It is immediately not known as to what the response of the Prime Minister was to the long list of demands of the Chief Minister.