Declare cyclone Nilam damages as National Calamity: TDP

The Telugu Desam Party on Saturday demanded that the Central Government declare the havoc caused due to Nilam cyclone as a National Calamity.

The demand was made during the party's politburo meeting held in Chennavaravulu village of Ranga Reddy district. The meeting, chaired by TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu, has asked the Centre to extend immediate financial assistance to the cyclone affected areas by declaring it as a National Calamity under the National Calamity Funds.

Briefing the media persons about the decisions taken by the TDP politburo, Leader of the Opposition in Legislative Council Dadi Veerabhadra Rao and former minister Kadiam Srihari said that the politburo also demanded that the State Government increase the ex-gratia amount for the families of the deceased to Rs 5 lakh each. They also said that the government takes up rehabilitation measures on war footing basis.

Kadiam said that the TDP politburo has asked the State Government to conduct the local bodies elections on immediate basis. He said that the government should also ensure that Backward Classes get 33 per cent quota in the local bodies polls.

The politburo also discussed the ongoing "Vastunna Mee Kosam" padayatra of Chandrababu Naidu and tentatively decided to conclude the same on January 26, 2013.

The TDP's politburo also paid tributes to former union minister K Yerran Naidu, who was killed in a road accident, last week.