The Hindu : Front Page : Rs. 2,731 crores for tsunami relief work

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jan 20, 2005

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Front Page

Rs. 2,731 crores for tsunami relief work

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, JAN. 19. The Union Cabinet today approved a Rs. 2,731-crore relief and rehabilitation package for the victims of the tsunami in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Pondicherry.

The bulk of the assistance has been provided to Tamil Nadu at Rs. 2,262.65 crores, followed by Rs. 245.94 crores to Kerala, Rs. 153.46 crores for Pondicherry and Rs. 68.99 crores for Andhra Pradesh.

The Finance Minister, P. Chidambaram, and the Agriculture Minister, Sharad Pawar, said this was only the first phase of assistance. It covered the immediate needs in terms of providing food and other assistance to those affected; helping the fishermen get back to work; and construction of houses. Another package will be cleared in the next few days, covering the reconstruction of infrastructure and address the problem of salinity of farmlands inundated by seawater.

A separate package will be announced for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands soon. Mr. Pawar will visit the islands for three days from tomorrow and hold discussions with the authorities on the relief package.

Under the package announced today, Rs. 1,093 crores has been allocated to help fishermen return to work by providing them with boats, nets and other equipment; Rs. 861.82 crores for the provision of foodgrains and other materials; Rs.752.3 crores for construction of houses; and Rs.23.21 crores for repair of fishing harbours and fish landing places.

Of the amount allocated for the fishermen, Rs. 454.47 crores would be provided as subsidy and Rs. 639 crores as loans. The loans carry an interest rate of seven per cent. An interest subsidy of two per cent will be provided in case of prompt repayment. The loans would have a moratorium period of one and a half years and repayment will be spread over seven years.

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