The Government, noting with concern that 158 claims of companies seeking insurance for the damage caused by very severe cyclone Hudhud in October last were pending, reviewed them here on Tuesday.
Noting that 90 per cent of 6,296 claims by different units were settled to the satisfaction of the insurers, the Government wanted to push for clearing all the insurance claims and Principal Secretary, industries, Shamsher Singh Rawat along with District Collector N. Yuvaraj reviewed the claims, case by case, with representatives of general insurance companies, including Oriental Insurance, United India Insurance, New India Assurance, National Insurance, Bajaj Allianz, Tata AIG General Insurance, Cholamandalam General Insurance, SBI General Insurance and Bharti AXA, among others and representatives of companies at the Collectorate on Tuesday.
Assessment
The insurance companies had sent surveyors to assess the damage to the units due to Hudhud. The survey reports of 6,171 claims had been submitted and claims processed and survey reports on 125 claims were pending, the Collector said. In case of 5741 claims, Rs. 309.32 crore was disbursed as final settlement. In case of 245 claims, Rs 272.34 crore was disbursed as partial payment of claims. There were 152 claims that were rejected. In all, Rs. 581.66 crore was disbursed in case of 6,138 claims, the Collector said.
Of 33 survey reports submitted to the insurance companies, disbursement of insurance money was pending, he added.
The Secretary asked the insurance companies and the claimant industries to settle all the Hudhud claims by the end of August and promised to help both the parties arrive at an amicable settlement. He said he would review the situation in the first week of September.
“The Insurance companies have done a fairly good job in settling the Hudhud claims, the 10 per cent that were pending was more on technical grounds and some disputes on claims,” Andhra Chambers of Commerce and Industries vice-president G. Samabasiva Rao said.
The interest shown by the Government to sort out the 10 per cent pending claims speaks volumes of the proactive nature of the Government, he added.
Ninety per cent of 6,296 claims by different units have been settled to the satisfaction of insurers
Shamsher Singh Rawat
Principal Secretary, industries
