The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Tamil Nadu seeks Rs. 4,800 crores

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 05, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu seeks Rs. 4,800 crores

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, JAN. 4. Just as a Central team began its tour of the coastal districts of Tamil Nadu to assess the damage caused by the tsunami and recommend a package of assistance, the Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, today sent a memorandum seeking assistance to the tune of Rs. 4,800 crores and 54,000 tonnes of foodgrains.

The 12-member team, headed by A.K. Srivatsava, Joint Secretary (CS), Ministry of Home, along with the coordinator of the Central teams to various States and Secretary (Border Management), Ministry of Home, A.K. Rastogi, had a discussion with the Chief Minister and State Government officials here.

The memorandum seeking Central assistance has been sent to the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, and the Home Minister, Shivraj Patil.

Ms. Jayalalithaa, in her demi-official letters to Dr. Singh and Mr. Patil, stressed the need for developing a special package, as the usual norms of the Calamity Relief Fund could not be applied in view of the unprecedented nature of the disaster.

The issue was already taken up during her discussion with Mr. Patil on December 27, she recalled.

Ms. Jayalalithaa thanked the Centre for its immediate allocation of Rs. 250 crores towards relief operations.

The memorandum was based on the State Government's quick assessment of the extensive damage in the coastal areas on December 26.

While the total damage would run into thousands of crores of rupees and require a more detailed assessment, the quantum of assistance indicated by the State Government in its memorandum was aimed at enabling lakhs of affected families to get back in some measure to their normal life.

The break-up

According to an official release, the broad heads under which assistance was sought included Rs. 204.95 crores for search, rescue and relief, Rs. 90 crores for a temporary relief package, Rs.71.45 crores for public health-prevention of epidemics and treatment of the injured, Rs.261.36 crores for a sustenance package to make good livelihood loss, Rs.250 crores for temporary housing, Rs. 750 crores for permanent housing and Rs.709.22 crores for restoration of community assets in the coastal areas.

The State also needed Rs.1,054 crores for rehabilitation of fishermen and restoration of their livelihood, Rs.130.62 crores for restoration of the livelihood of others, Rs.449 crores for protection of the sea coast, prevention of sea erosion and inundation of Nagapattinam district by constructing sea walls and groynes, Rs.200 crores for restoration of ecology and development of mangrove forests along the coastline and Rs.628.88 crores for restoration of infrastructure, repairs and reconstruction.

Loan waiver

On the unprecedented damage caused to the coastal economy, the memorandum pleaded for waiver of all outstanding commercial and cooperative bank loans of fishermen.

It also requested waiver of the customs duty for import of fishing nets, motors and spare parts for mechanised and fibre boats and also excise duty for manufacture of these items within the country.

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