Taluk-level meetings were held on Sunday to discuss ways to firm up relief measures to those affected by sea erosion and the monsoon. At a meeting held at the Corporation council hall here, Mayor C. Jayan Babu announced that the Corporation would soon set up a task force equipped with machines to cut down trees. A committee was set up to identify trees – along public roads and in school compounds – that were in imminent danger of being uprooted. Based on the committee’s recommendations, the trees would be cut down at the Corporation’s expense. It was decided that 24 hours’ notice would be given to the owners of properties where trees were in danger of crashing down. If the owner did not cut the trees down the Corporation would take up the task and recover the cost from the person concerned.

As a follow-up to the Government’s decision to give free rations to those affected by sea erosion or the monsoon, it was decided at Sunday’s meeting that two week’s rations would be given to all ration card holders who are declared eligible jointly by the respective ward councillor and by the village officer concerned.

The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) came in for much criticism from Corporation councillors who said Board officials could not be reached by people who wanted to report broken power lines or wanted to get power supply restored. Even the helplines set up by the Board were not functioning properly, the councillors pointed out.

At the meeting held at Nedumangad taluk, it was decided to finalise, within three days, an estimate of the damage to crops and property in the taluk. I

t was also decided to post officials of the KSEB, Kerala Water Authority, Public Works Department and Civil Supplies at the taluk control room.

A special KSEB control room would be opened (0471 2802370). The special Health Department control room (0471 2802262) would also be opened, it was decided.

At the meeting held at Neyyattinkara taluk it was decided to take immediate steps to pump out stagnant water from Kottukal and Karimkulam villages.

At the meeting held at Chirayinkeezhu taluk it was decided to ensure adequate supply of water and power to the relief camps. Local bodies in association with the Agriculture Department would prepare an estimate of the damage to crops in the taluk.

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