A huge step in the right direction from Tamil Nadu.

Against the backdrop of acid attacks that claimed the lives of two young women, Tamil Nadu Government today said it will take steps to control and regulate sale of the chemical.

"A Bill (in this regard) will be moved during the coming Budget session of the state Assembly and adopted," Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa said in a statement here.

Condoling the death of a 20 year-old city woman, who on February 24 succumbed to burns sustained in an acid attack by a man last month, she announced a relief of Rs 2 lakh from the Chief Minister's General Relief Fund to the family of the deceased.

The death of two victims of acid attacks in the past fortnight has triggered calls for checking easy availability of acid with even the Madras High Court moved for a ban on over-the-counter sale. The court yesterday issued notice to the Central and state governments.