CHENNAI:Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Wednesday said relief and rehabilitation works in rain-affected areas particularly in Cuddalore district were on a war footing and compensation to damaged standing crops would be disbursed to farmers once the rainwater recedes.
Senior Ministers O Panneerselvam, R Viswanathan, R Vaithilingam, KA Jayapaul and RB Udhayakumar along with a team of IAS officials have been monitoring the relief works in Cuddalore district. Over 2,000 EB workers and four Sub Collectors and 23 senior officials have been deputed for expediting relief works.
In a statement here, the Chief Minister said so far 27 persons had lost their lives in Cuddalore district in rain-related incidents and officials have been directed to disburse financial assistance immediately. Compensation for loss of cattle and damages to hutments would also be given immediately.
“A team of senior IAS officials headed by Gagandeep Singh Bedi is monitoring the relief and rehabilitation works being undertaken in Cuddalore district. Rural Development Director Baskaran, Municipal Administration Managing Director Prakash, TWAD Board MD Vijayarajkumar, TNEB Chairman M Saikumar, Industries Department Additional Secretary MS Shanmugam, Animal Husbandry Director Abraham and Health Department Director Kulandaiswamy have been camping in Cuddalore district to oversee and expedite relief works”, she said.
Observing that during the north east monsoon from October to December, around 440 mm of rain used to be received, she said this year, within three days it was 300 mm rain. In Cuddalore district, the average was 697 mm and so far, 500 mm rain had been received. On November 8 and 9 alone, it was 266 mm rain.
The Chief Minister said over 29,000 affected persons in Cuddalore district had been sheltered in safety and food, drinking water etc., were being given to them. There were eight common cooking centres in rain-affected areas while five teams headed by two Sub Collectors have been ensuring that the requirements of people moved to shelters were taken care of. Four more Sub Collectors and 23 officials from Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Villupuram and Tiruchy districts have been deputed to the district for expediting relief works.
Stating that 2,000 electric poles were damaged and power supply was disrupted in many villages in Cuddalore district, Jayalalithaa said “at present, of the 180 power feeders for eight combined water projects, 153 feeders for seven projects, all the 51 feeders in urban areas have been restored and power supply had been ensured while 2,000 EB workers from other districts have been deputed to Cuddalore district.”
Of the 683 village panchayats affected by floods, power supply had been restored in 430 and efforts were on a war footing to restore in the remaining. Generators were used to ensure drinking water supply in urban areas in the district and water supply through lorries was continuing in other parts of the district. With a view to preventing diseases, 37 mobile medical camps were functioning.
Due to flooding in Paravanar river, traffic on Vadalur-Kumbakonam Highway had been disrupted and steps were being taken to remove stagnant water. As many as 100 FRP Vallams had been washed away in floods in Devanampattinam village and 40 vallams had been traced in two places with the help of Coast Guard and steps were being taken to rescue these. Animal Husbandry Department had set up 90 teams for treating cattle stock.
Rs 4 lakh each to kin of deceased
Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Wednesday expressed grief over the death of 19 persons in rain-related incidents in various parts of the State in the past two days and announced a financial assistance of Rs 4 lakh each to the bereaved families. Of the 19 deceased, 16 were from Cuddalore, two from Kancheepuram district and one from Tiruvannamalai district. U Vasuki and U Kausalya (Vishur), P Ashok (Semmedu), S Selvi, V Siva, V Selvi, V Marimuthu, V Perumal and V Veeramuthu were among the dead.