The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : ADB satisfied with tsunami reconstruction work in Tamil Nadu

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Sep 07, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

ADB satisfied with tsunami reconstruction work in Tamil Nadu

R.K. Radhakrishnan

Strengthening of manpower suggested in areas where projects are on

WELL DONE: Kunio Senga, Director-General, South Asia Regional Department of Asian Development Bank (left), greeting Finance Minister K. Anbhazhagan at the Secretariat in Chennai on Wednesday. R. Santhanam, Revenue Commissioner (second from left), and Adhiseshaiah, Revenue Secretary, are also in the picture.- PHOTO: V. GANESAN

CHENNAI: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has suggested to the State Government that manpower has to be strengthened in areas where tsunami reconstruction projects were in progress.

The bank's Director-General (South Asia Department) Kunio Senga met Finance Minister K. Anbazhagan, Chief Secretary L.K. Tripathy, Revenue Commissioner R. Santhanam and senior officials to discuss the progress of tsunami reconstruction works.

The ADB officials, who had toured the tsunami-hit areas ahead of their meeting in the city, impressed on the government for more staff given the fact that the reconstruction and building work was spread over more than 200 villages spread along the Tamil Nadu coast. Mr. Senga said that he was told that the Government was looking into this aspect. "Overall I am very satisfied [with the work on the ground]," he said after a meeting with the Finance Minister.

The bank has allocated a total of Rs. 629.64 crore for the reconstruction work covering rebuilding or constructing new bridges, roads and minor ports; restoration of livelihood, water supply and sanitation and capacity building. Of the funds, about 53 per cent was given as grants. The Finance Minister said that normally, the bank's loan should be paid back in 32 years. The bank was willing to reconsider a 40-year-term for the current loan.

Good coordination

Mr. Senga expressed his appreciation for the tsunami rehabilitation and reconstruction works and said that he had met members of Self Help Groups who had benefited from the projects. He noted that there was good coordination between the government and non-government organisations.

He said that no system could be entirely perfect and added that it was only a matter of time before issues are sorted out. "I have no concern at all on this issue," he said when asked about minor problems in some regions. Asked how Tamil Nadu fared in comparison with other tsunami-affected areas, Mr. Senga said that consultation with the local people was one of the key elements of success.

"I am very happy to see the very close consultation with the local community [here]. From now on, what we can see — the physical activity — will take off very quickly... Every place I visited, the work on housing was almost complete," he said and added that though ADB did not cover the housing component, this was a very essential part of rehabilitation.

"Compared to other affected regions, Tamil Nadu is ahead [in reconstruction]," he said in response to a question.

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