The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Assembly mourns tsunami victims

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 16, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Assembly mourns tsunami victims

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, FEB.15. The Assembly today adopted a condolence motion placing on record its profound sorrow over the loss of life, property and also misery caused by tsunami to people in India and other countries.

The motion, tabled by the Chief Minister, Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, expressed the members' sympathy to the bereaved families.

Dr. Reddy said oon after he was informed about the tidal wave, he had instructed the Collectors of coastal districts to take all precautions, including evacuation of people and organising relief camps. He appreciated the administration for responding spontaneously.

He said that 105 deaths had occurred in the State. The Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, and the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, had spoken to him within hours of the calamity.

Houses for fishermen

Mr. Singh had assured him all assistance from the Centre and later visited the victims. A Central assistance of Rs. 100 crores was announced.

The Chief Minister said 40,000 houses were being constructed for the affected families of fishermen. They were being provided modern boats and nets at a cost of Rs. 35 crores.

Warning centre

The Leader of the Opposition, N. Chandrababu Naidu, called for an advanced tsunami warning centre and suggested Visakhapatnam as a suitable location. He said many Telugus living in the Andaman and Nicobar islands had returned to the State following the calamity. He urged the Government to extend all benefits to them.

More diesel

The Minister for Fisheries, Fariddudin Mohammed, said the Government had tripled diesel supply to fishermen to 3,000 litres a month and was taking all measures to ensure that they earned their livelihood. The Speaker, K. R. Suresh Reddy, offered his condolences to the victims.

Members from both ruling and Opposition benches wanted science and technology used for providing advance warning during such calamities.

The House later observed two minutes silence as a mark of respect to the thousands who died in the catastrophe in the Southern States.

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