CHENNAI: A nine-member team of officials from the Central government began on Wednesday an assessment of the damage done by cyclone Vardah in Chennai and Kancheepuram districts. The delegation is led by Praveen Vashishta, a joint secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The delegation met Tamil Nadu chief minister O Panneerselvam, chief secretary Girija Vaidyanathan and senior officials and heard a Power Point presentation made by the Revenue Department showing the damage to public infrastructure done by the December 12 cyclone.
The chief minister reeled off all the work done by his government by way of rescue and restoration, which he said was done on a ‘war footing’. To wit: ministers and IAS officers were deputed to the affected districts; the Greater Chennai Corporation launched relief and restoration ops; a massive operation was launched to restore power supply and remove fallen trees; police, fire service and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel were extensively used; equipment such as power saws, JCBs and tipper lorries were mobilized from all over Tamil Nadu and the neighbouring states.
The Tamil Nadu government released Rs. 500 crore from its Disaster Response Fund for immediate relief and restoration activities. Damage assessment teams were set up and relief was given to the affected people.
The chief minister then came to the money part. He reminded the delegation that he has sent a detailed memorandum to the Prime Minister assessing the fund requirement for relief and reconstruction. The figure quoted by the government is Rs 22,573 crore.
Panneerselvam requested the central delegation to study the damage at depth and report back to the Ministry of Home Affairs immediately.
Praveen Vashista said the damage done by Vardah could be sensed even in Delhi. And he said when he and his delegation landed at the airport in Chennai, the speedy restoration wrought by the state government was evident. He commended the state government for this. As for his own job here, he said he would do as required.
The delegation also met 14 MLAs representing constituencies in Chennai and its suburban areas, led by former mayor Ma Subramanian and received from them a memorandum on the constituency-wise damage done by Vardah.
Subramanian told mediapersons after the encounter that over one lakh trees have been lost in Chennai alone in addition to hundreds of hutments, transformers and electric poles.
After the Secretariat meetings, the team was due to do a disaster tour of the city including a visit to the Panagal park, the Anna Arch near the Thirumangalam tree dump yard and the Vandalur zoo. They can expect to see another Power Point presentation at Guindy listing the damage caused to electrical infrastructure.
Tomorrow, Dec. 29, the team will visit Royapuram, Kallukadaimedu village, Chinnambedu, Sholavaram, Sothuperumpedu, Orakkadu, Arumandai, Seemavaram, Periyamullaivoyal, Vazhudigaimedu and Madiyur. The visit wraps up with a meeting with the chief secretary at 4.30 pm before the flight back to Delhi.