As floodwaters recede and normal life returns in many homes, many associations, including those belonging to fishermen and fly-ash manufacturers, have begun petitioning the State government for relief.
Fishermen of Cuddalore Devanampattinam, whose 36 boats went missing and 400 crafts damaged and fishermen of Kasimedu, whose crafts were damaged during recent flood-rescue operations have sought funds from the State government.
Indian Fishermen Association's representative Vadivel of Devanampattinam, said though Ministers and officials had visited their village, they were yet to get information about any relief for the craft.
“The damage was heavy. Our livelihood depends on the boats and without them we are forced to stay home,” he said.
Akila Indiya Meenavar Sangam's Nanjil Ravi, who thanked Chief Minister Jayalalithaa for appreciating their contribution in helping thousands of marooned residents in Chennai, Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram districts, urged the government to consider their demand for Rs. one lakh for completely damaged craft.
“Nearly 100 boats, involved in the rescue operations, broke when earthmovers lifted them onto the trucks. Many crafts were damaged partially when they hit compound walls and stones in the flooded areas. We need proper compensation for these," he said.
Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu Fly ash bricks and Blocks Manufacturers Association in a petition said that the 30-odd units in Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts had suffered losses of over Rs. 2 crore.
Association secretary V. Sathyanarayanan said that most units had been submerged under water and machinery had begun to rust. Raw material too had been washed away in the waters.
Interest waiver sought
“With financial assistance, it will take us at least two months to get back on our feet. We want the government to request banks to not demand interest for our loans till our units are up and running,” he said.
While the associations seek financial assistance from the government, various departments have been assessing the damages to public property.
The civil supplies department has found that 174 tonnes of rice, 28 tonnes of sugar, 15 tonnes of wheat, 12 tonnes of dal, 5 tonnes of palm oil, valued all about Rs. 45 lakh, have been damaged in flood-affected districts.
“We have replaced the stocks since consumers cannot be made to wait. There are instructions to the Cooperative societies that stocks must be kept on raised platforms... But the rains were unprecedented,” said a source.
Similarly, in some temples in Cuddalore Villupuram and Kancheepuram there was damage to the compound walls of the temples and bunds of the tanks located outside the temples.
In Kancheepuram Ekambareswarar temple and Varadaraja Perumal temple there was water stagnation for a day and it was drained the next day.
This was because of overflowing temple tanks which are inside the temple, explained a source.
