T.N. seeks ₹1,000-cr. special package in Union Budget to tackle drought

Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam on Friday requested the Centre to grant a special package of ₹1,000 crore to Tamil Nadu in the Union Budget, to be presented on July 5, to tackle the severe drought in various parts of the State.
Speaking at the pre-Budget meeting of Finance Ministers from all States, chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Delhi on Friday, Mr. Panneerselvam sought the Centre’s assistance to augment irrigation structures in drought-prone areas and to address agrarian distress and drinking water crisis, similar to the allocation made to Maharashtra.
“The country is facing severe drought and its impact is significantly more severe in Tamil Nadu. The vagaries of the monsoon, climatic change, unending inter-State river water disputes and fast depleting groundwater level have all led to an unprecedented water crisis in Tamil Nadu,” Mr. Panneerselvam, who holds the Finance portfolio, said.

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