The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Rain damage at Villupuram put at Rs. 150 crore

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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Rain damage at Villupuram put at Rs. 150 crore

Special Correspondent

Complete report to be ready in a couple of days

Photo: T. Singaravelou

Assistance: Higher Education Minister K. Ponmudy distributing relief to rain-affected persons at Chinnamudaliarchavadi. —

VILLUPURAM: Rain damage in Villupuram district was to the tune of Rs. 150 crore, according to K. Ponmudy, Higher Education Minister.

After inspecting rain-affected areas and reservoirs in the district, Mr Ponmudy told presspersons here on Sunday that according to tentative estimates, a total length of 1,100 km of roads were damaged. Standing crops on 5,600 acres were destroyed in the past one week.

Officials in the Sub-Collector rank were deployed to assess damage to houses and crops. A complete report would be ready in a couple of days.

Mr. Ponmudy said that 14 persons died in incidents such as wall collapse, electrocution and drowning. As per the direction of Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, a compensation of Rs. 1 lakh would be given to the families of the victims.

Of 15 bridges damaged on the National Highways, 10 were promptly repaired, thanks to the efforts taken by Collector R. Palanisamy. Rough sea had led to erosion at Chinnamudaliarchavadi on East Coast Road even though protective walls of palmirah trunks and boulders were present.

Public Works Department officials had been directed to come out with a permanent solution to the problem.

Mr. Ponmudy said that because of copious flow at the Gomukhi, the Manimuktha and the Veedur dams, heavy volume of water was being discharged.

Water being released from the Sathanur dam was also raising the level of the Then Pennaiyar.

Hence, officials had been instructed to keep a close watch on the flood situation.

Mr. Ponmudy said that because of the speedy measures taken by the Collector and officials, losses were reduced.

Flood management had become easier and losses lesser, thanks to Anaithu Grama Anna Marumalarchi Thittam.

Mr. Ponmudy, accompanied by Mr. Palanismy, District Revenue Officer C. Kathiravan, Project Officer (DRDA) V. Mahendran, and MLA S. Pushparaj, visited the inundated Anichakuppam tsunami colony on ECR.

At Chinnamudaliarchavadi, the Minister gave away 10 kg of free rice and compensation of Rs. 2,000 each to the rain-affected people. Mr. Ponmudy reviewed the flood situation with the officials.

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