The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Tirunelveli News : Discussion on quantum of relief in Nellai

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jan 08, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Tirunelveli

Discussion on quantum of relief in Nellai

By Our Staff Reporter

TIRUNELVELI, JAN. 7. Representatives of fishermen of the coastal hamlets in the district, led by the Radhapuram MLA, M. Appavu, held discussions with the Tirunelveli Collector, Atul Anand, at the Collectorate today to decide the quantum of relief measures to be distributed to tsunami victims.

When the fishermen blocked the Kanyakumari - Tiruchendur highway near their hamlets yesterday, demanding Rs. 4,000 to every fisherman family, 60 kg rice and 10 litres of kerosene, the Revenue Divisional Officer, Cheranmahadevi, Anbazhagan, assured them that the quantum of the assistance could be decided in the meeting with the Collector, which forced the protestors to give up their agitation.

Pursuant to this promise, the representatives of fishermen, parish priests of the coastal hamlets and Mr. Appavu held discussions with the Collector.

Showing the Government Order, which paves way for the distribution of Rs. 2,000 in cash, 60 Kg of rice and 3 litre of kerosene to the tsunami-affected people, Mr. Atul Anand assured the fishermen that he would take their demands with the officials concerned at the earliest. "I'll let you know the final decision taken by the Government in this connection within the next two days," he said.

Utilising this opportunity, Mr. Appavu said the Government should give 400 litres of kerosene to the country-boat fishermen at a subsidised price, as was being done in neighbouring Kerala. "We have already forwarded a proposal to the Government in this connection and we just want to remind it again," he said adding that `mini-harbours' should be constructed at Thomaiyarpuram, Uvari, Idinthakarai, Koottapuli and Kooduthaazhai to make the fish-landing activities from the vessels easier.

He also suggested that the huge amount lying unutilised in the VAMBAY scheme could be used to construct houses to the fishermen, who have been rendered homeless due to tsunami.

Some of the fishermen from Uvari appealed to the Collector to give them `patta' for the church land on which they had constructed houses.

They also informed that the church administration was prepared to give `No Objection Certificate' to make the process easier.

Besides repairing the damaged drinking water pipelines, immediate steps should be taken to re-lay the stretch between Periyahtaazhai and Koodankulam, they said.

The District Revenue Officer, R. Thambidurai, the Project Officer, District Rural Development Agency, P. Ponniah, and other top officials participated.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu

News Update

Stories in this Section

Discussion on quantum of relief in Nellai

Chaos at family cards distribution centre