The Hindu : Front Page : Central team to finalise report soon

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Sunday, Jan 13, 2008
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Central team to finalise report soon

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: The eight-member Central team, which inspected flood affected districts in the State, will finalise its report in 15 days and submit it to the Centre for further action.

The team members, who returned to Chennai on Saturday after a three-day inspection of the affected areas, had an hour long discussion with Revenue and Housing Minister I. Periasamy, Chief Secretary L.K. Tripathy and other senior officials at the Secretariat.

After reaching New Delhi they will prepare a comprehensive damage assessment report, based on which the Centre will release funds from the National Calamity Contingency Fund, according to State Government officials.

The team members, led by Dinesh Singh, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, inspected the severely affected areas in Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Villupuram, Cuddalore, Tiruchi, Thanjavur, Nagapattinam and Tiruvarur districts.

They were briefed by district officials and also heard the views of affected people, farmers, representatives of local bodies and people’s representatives.

Extensive loss

Addressing the team members, the Revenue Minister said in five days (December 17 to 21), the State recorded 183.22 mm of rainfall, which caused extensive loss and damage to infrastructure.

Seventy-one lives were lost in the disaster, which damaged crops on 1.95 lakh hectares, 2,915 houses fully and 17,301 houses partly.

Loss to the Public Works Department alone was estimated at Rs. 122.56 crore. Fisheries, Water Supplies, Sewerage, Handloom and Textile departments also suffered widespread damage.

Memorandum

The Minister said the Chief Minister had submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister seeking Rs. 1,510.85-crore assistance — Rs. 545.11 crore for temporary and Rs. 965.74 crore for permanent restoration of assets.

The State released Rs. 200 crore for immediate relief measures, besides rehabilitation works in the affected areas.

He expressed the hope that the team members would submit the assessment report quickly so as to enable the Centre release funds early to the State.

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