Chennai, Nov 19 (BPNS)

The Union Government has constituted a seven-member team led by Joint Secretary in the Government of India, Rajiv Sharma who is the Joint Secretary and Financial Advisor, National Intelligence Grid, Ministry of Home affairs.

The team members are drawn from various ministries of the government of India who are experts in the respective domains. The team is expected to reach Tamil Nadu in a couple of days’ time and would be traveling across the rain-affected areas of the state.

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has already directed the team to provide a detailed report to the Disaster Management division of the Union Home Ministry within a week.

It may be noted that the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin had requested the Prime Minister to extend support to the state which has been badly hit by back-to-back rains and inundation leading to huge losses. 18 people lost their lives and around 1.50 lakh hectares of agricultural land were inundated leading to huge losses in crops.

The team from the Union government has already directed the state government to prepare detailed report on the losses incurred during the rains and to present before it. However, the Government of India will require a detailed report from the seven-member team that is reaching the state.

The Disaster Management division in the Union Home ministry will be coordinating with the various departments to finalise the compensation to be granted to the state.