NAGERCOIL: The news of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s proposed visit to the district has given renewed hope to the habitants of the coastal villages, who are still picking up the pieces after Ockhi left a trail of death and destruction.
Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan, while meeting the representatives of fishermen from Thoothoor said, “PM Modi will meet them as well as a delegation of farmers in Nagercoil on Tuesday.”
Though the Prime Minister wished to visit the coastal villages, the proposal was dropped as there is no facility for the helicopter to land.
Likewise in Kerala, he will spend an hour in the State capital interacting with representatives of the fishermen community and other stakeholders. The PM, who will reach Thiruvananthapuram at 4.45 pm from Kanniyakumari, will proceed to Raj Bhavan, where he will meet Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, members of his cabinet and representatives of the fishermen community.
Officials representing the Latin Church are likely to be part of the meeting. The State government is working on a digital presentation to brief the PM about the severity of the damage. Chief secretary K M Abraham has been entrusted with the task of making the presentation with help from the disaster management authority. Department heads have been asked to gather relevant data for it.
The government is also likely to draw the PM’s attention to the delay in timely warnings on cyclones and other natural disasters. Kerala has sought a Central package of `1,843 crore for relief and rehabilitation efforts. The State is hopeful that the PM Modi’s visit will help in getting the package approved.