The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Jayalalithaa seeks rehabilitation package for fishermen

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 16, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Jayalalithaa seeks rehabilitation package for fishermen

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, JAN.15. In continuance of her discussions with the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, and the Union Minister of Agriculture, Sharad Pawar, at the Raj Bhavan on January 7 on relief and rehabilitation work in the tsunami-affected areas in the State, the Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, today held talks with Mr. Pawar at the Secretariat to finalise proposals on housing for the displaced and rehabilitation packages for the fishermen.

She said 31,383 fully damaged log and fibre reinforced plastic (FRP) catamarans had to be replaced. She asked Mr. Pawar to ensure that the package enabled replacement of all the catamarans, with outboard motors and nets, at the rate of Rs.1.5 lakh a unit and "the total cost of this component, which is estimated at Rs.470.75 crores should be fully funded by the Centre," according to an official release.

A total of 8140 wooden and FRP vallams had to be replaced at a cost of Rs.122.10 crores, she said. She called for a higher order of Central support for 2655 mechanised boats — Illugasan boats, stern trawler boats of length less than 40 feet, and those of length more than 40 feet — had been lost.

Apart from this, the cost of repairs to fishing craft and mechanised boats; replacement of outboard and inboard motors; and replacement of nets had to be met. She reiterated the plea for Rs.100 crores of Central assistance for complete repairs and modernisation of fishing harbours. She stressed the need for dredging estuaries and 52 river mouths at a cost of Rs.15.60 crores.

Permanent housing

The Chief Minister indicated that her Government would make available sites about one km away from the sea for the construction of permanent houses for the displaced people. She had sought assistance of Rs.50 crores for the purchase of the new sites for the relocation of these families.

She also indicated that the Government would prescribe suitable designs for these houses to ensure that they are earthquake and cyclone resistant, the release said.

"It is estimated that about 1.2 lakh families have been separately affected as their lands have become saline in the wake of tsunami," the release said. She also called for a monthly sustenance support of rice at 30 per kg and cash support extending for two years before which soil could not be reclaimed.

The official release here said the Union Minister for Shipping, T.R. Baalu, was present at the meeting.

The Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, P.M.A. Hakeem, the Joint Secretary of the department, Ajay Battacharya, and the Officer on Special Duty (Agriculture), Ajoy Mehta, represented the Centre. The State Ministers, O. Paneerselvam, C. Ponnaiyan, D. Jayakumar and M. Radhakrishnan, the Chief Secretary, Lakshmi Pranesh, the Development Commissioner and the Principal Secretary, Finance, N. Narayanan, the Special Commissioner and the Commissioner for Revenue Administration, R. Santhanam, participated.

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