The Hindu : Other States / Pondicherry News : Chidambaram assures adequate assistance

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Wednesday, Dec 29, 2004

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Chidambaram assures adequate assistance

By Our Staff Reporter

PONDICHERRY, DEC. 28. The Union Finance Minister, P. Chidambaram, today told residents in tsunami-hit villages in Pondicherry that the Government was fully on their side. An interim allocation of Rs 25 crores had been announced by the Union Home Minister, Shivraj Patil, for the Union Territory during his visit here on Monday. He asked them to have confidence in the Government, which had initiated steps to provide relief to the affected.

Mr. Chidambaram inspected the damage in the affected areas of Ganapathichettykulam and Pudhukuppam and a relief centre at Kalapet. The Agriculture Minister, A. Namassivayam, accompanied Mr.Chidambaram during his visit to the villages. The Collector, V. Candavelou, and other officials briefed Mr.Chidambaram on the relief works undertaken by the Fisheries department and other wings of the government.

Mr.Chidambaram had a look at the extensive devastation seismic waves caused to boats and other materials used by fishermen and to houses in Ganapathichettykulam and Pudhukuppam.

Talking to newsmen before proceeding to Cuddalore from Pudhukuppam, the Finance Minister said already the territorial government had taken up immediate relief work.

A solatium of Rs. l lakh had been announced to the next of kin of the family, which lost a member. Steps were taken to distribute a cash relief of Rs. 2000, 20 kg of rice and clothes.

Mr. Chidambaram said the local government had done good work.

However, housing for the displaced fishermen had not been taken care of.

They were also in need of boats and fishing nets.

He would talk to the Chief Minister and a plan would be finalised by the Centre in consultation with the State Government.

Paswan visits villages

The Union Chemicals, Fertilisers and Steel Minister, Ram Vilas Paswan, visited coastal villages and a relief distribution centre at Veerampattinam where clothes, Rs. 2000 in cash per family, rice and other relief materials were distributed by the Pondicherry Administration.

T. Jayamoorthy, MLA, explained to the Minster the extent of havoc. He told The Hindu at Veerampattinam that he would visit all coastal villages in Tamil Nadu tomorrow.

CPI( M) team

A team of functionaries of the C PI (M) from Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry today visited the tsunami-hit villages in Pondicherry and listened to the woes of the villagers.

The Secretary of the Tamil Nadu State committee of the party, N. Varadarajan led the team.

A source in the party here said that a detailed report would be prepared by the committee and it would be subsequently handed to the government for follow up measures to mitigate the sufferings of the people in Pondicherry and in Tamil Nadu.

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