The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : State seeks Rs.1,510-cr. aid from Centre

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Dec 28, 2007
ePaper

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

State seeks Rs.1,510-cr. aid from Centre

R.K. Radhakrishnan

Rs. 800 crore to be spent on highways
Rs. 520 crore on infrastructure

CHENNAI: The State Government has sought Rs.1,510.87 crore from the Centre to rebuild infrastructure and compensate for the loss caused by the recent rain.

Commissioner of Revenue Administration Shaktikanta Das on Thursday handed over a copy of the report prepared by his department to Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi at the Secretariat. As many as 71 people were killed, over 20,000 huts damaged and standing crops on 1.3 lakh hectares lost in coastal Tamil Nadu and the delta districts. During the rain, standing crops on over two lakh hectares were submerged.

“That was the reason for the higher estimate of damage that we came up with earlier,” an official said. But, after the water drained, it was found that the damage to crops was on 1.3 lakh hectares. This loss was estimated at Rs.55 crore.

Out of Rs.1,510.87 crore, Rs.800 crore would be spent for relaying the battered highways and Rs.520 crore for rebuilding the damaged infrastructure in local bodies of the State.

Plugging breaches in reservoirs, channels and other water storage structures would cost Rs.125 crore. The State Government has released Rs. 200 crore from the Calamity Relief Fund to meet emergency relief needs. But, since the money available in the fund is not sufficient to rebuild infrastructure and compensate for the loss caused by the recent spells, the State has written to the Centre for aid.

According to the Revenue Administration department, Rs. 550 crore is required for immediate relief to restore the battered infrastructure.

The Revenue Secretary has sent the detailed report prepared to the Union Home Ministry.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu