CHENNAI: AMMK deputy general secretary T T V Dhinakaran on Tuesday demanded that cyclone Gaja , which wreaked havoc in the delta districts of Tamil Nadu last week, be declared a national calamity . He wanted the government to rush relief materials to the affected areas on a war footing."The Rs 1,000crore relief announced (by the state government) is not enough. I am not saying this as someone representing the opposition. The devastation in delta districts is so severe and farmers’ livelihood has been put back by 30 years," Dhinakaran told reporters en route to Tiruvarur "The CM can only make an aerial survey. The people's anger is such that neither him nor the ministers and their MLAs are in a position to face the people. Their anti-people rule has been going on for the last 18 months. District collectors are also busy hanging behind ministers. Several lower-level officials have not visited affected villages," said Dhinakaran, on the second day of his visit to the affected areas.The AMMK leader, who covered around 300 villages in Nagapattinam district on the first day, said people in many villages were protesting because even village administrative officers (VAOs) had not visited them."People are suffering without proper shelter, food and drinking water as well as medicine. The government should at least allow the officials to undertake relief work, instead of holding them back for unproductive review meetings. I urge the government to understand the gravity of the situation on the ground," he said.Dhinakaran will cover affected areas in Tiruvarur district on Tuesday. He will be in Thanjavur district on Wednesday."AMMK party leaders and cadres are helping affected people by joining hands with them in clearing road blocks and serving food. That's why, our convoy was permitted by people to pass through their areas," he said.

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