Thane contribution reaches Rs 128 crore

Chennai: Contribution to the Chief Minister`s General Relief Fund towards Thane cyclone relief has swelled to over Rs 128 crore. A sum of Rs 11.97 crore was recieved today by Chief Minister Jayalalithaa from her cabinet colleagues, including Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr V S Vijay, who contributed Rs 5.39 crore,
one day salary of the staff of his department besides his own.

Higher Education Minister P Palaniappan was among others who made the contribution today, a government release said.Following the havoc wrought by cyclone Thane in Cuddalore and Villupuram districts in December last, Jayalalithaa had appealed for contributions from philanthropists even as the state government sought a Rs 5249 crore relief package as Central assistance. The Centre had sanctioned a Rs 500 crore interim relief.