PROTEST: People affected in the rain stage a road block on the Madras - Tiruvallur High Road near Thanthoniamman Koil street, Villivakkam, demanding quick and orderly disbursal of flood relief. — Photo: S. Thanthoni

CHENNAI: It was chaos before ration shops in different parts of the city on Saturday with thousands of residents clamouring for rain relief promised by the State Government. Agitated residents staged road rokos in 12 places halting traffic for several hours in different parts of north Chennai.

Residents complained that the distribution of relief was faulty. Genuinely-affected persons went without relief whereas those who did not suffer any damage got the relief coupons, they said.

In Perambur, residents blocked traffic for two hours, first near the bus stand and then near the local taluk office. "Many residents of Perambur Bharathi Road have received the package, whether they were affected or not. But many of us in waterlogged Jamalia have got nothing," said Ganesh, a resident.

Affected areas in Perambur include Nelvayal road, Kumaraswamy Mudali Street and Rajiv Gandhi Nagar.

No system in place

Lack of organised distribution was the cause of confusion. As there was no system in place, people pushed one another. The ration shops did not have adequate staff to handle the demand.

The road rokos also blocked traffic for a couple of hours and the police had to intervene to disperse the crowd. Protests were held near Mint Clock Tower, on Thiruvottiyur High Road, Korukkupet-Manali Road, Nehru Nagar in Korukkupet, Pulianthope High Road, Paper Mills Road in Perambur, Moorthingar Street in MKB Nagar, near Ambedkar College in Vyasarpadi, in Otteri, on Konnur High Road in Ayanavaram, Kilpauk Gardens Road and MTH Road in Villivakkam.

As buses could not reach the Villivakkam terminus, commuters at Villivakkam and ICF had a tough time. Commuters at the ICF bus stand did not know where buses to Parrys and Egmore would arrive.

It was chaos at the ICF junction with a large number of commuters waiting amidst traffic.

Rectification measures

The Chennai Collectorate has decided to increase manpower and make the relief distribution process systematic. The duration would be staggered to cater to residents in different parts of Fort - Tondiarpet and Purasawalkam - Perambur taluks.

Chennai Collector S. Chandramohan, in a statement here, said: "Officials from the Chennai Corporation, Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation, Food and Cooperation Department will be deputed to ensure quick distribution." A detailed timetable on the relief distribution would be posted at ration shops.

Mr. Chandramohan said the dates were extended beyond November 6 till the relief reached the affected residents from low-income groups in the area. Residents could collect coupons from the ration shops and collect the relief material from distribution centres, the number of which would be increased from 20 to 40.

Eligible residents who did not get relief could submit petitions at Tahsildar's offices.

The petitions could also be submitted at information centres set up in the area. "These petitions would be examined immediately and, if found valid, relief would be given," the Collector said.

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