CDRI warns extreme weather could cost Tamil Nadu Rs 6,000 crore

The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure estimates that a single extreme-weather event could cause Tamil Nadu losses of about Rs 6,000 crore, warning that recovery costs could exceed funds readily available to the state. The assessment comes as the India Meteorological Department expects the northeast monsoon to begin over the south peninsula on October 15, with rain forecast in parts of the region. The CDRI report, released on October 12, examines fiscal risks to critical infrastructure in Tamil Nadu. It estimates that a flood with a one-in-50-year recurrence could cause losses comparable to those from the 2015 Chennai floods. These are modeled scenarios, not losses from a current disaster. The report also estimates average annual flood-related losses of Rs 84.3 million to energy infrastructure and Rs 24.5 million to roads and bridges. It says a disaster comparable to the 2004 tsunami could increase Tamil Nadu’s total expenditure by Rs 1,665.73 crore, including Rs 291.62 crore in additional internal debt issuance. A disaster comparable to the 2015 floods could raise total expenditure by about Rs 167.41 crore, according to the assessment.