Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Monday ordered the release of ₹1,000 crore towards relief operations in Cyclone Gaja-affected areas, as official estimates indicated heavy loss suffered by residents, farmers and fishermen in 12 districts. Mr. Palaniswami is scheduled to visit cyclone-affected areas on Tuesday.
After a detailed meeting with Ministers and officials from various departments at the Secretariat on Monday, Mr. Palaniswami announced compensation for all losses suffered by the people. “In view of the heavy losses suffered, the State government would insist upon the Centre for necessary funds from the National Disaster Relief Fund immediately,” the CM said in a 10-page statement.
Meanwhile, the death toll due to the cyclone rose to 46. As per official estimates, 270 cattle and 1,181 goats died in the disaster. About 88,102 hectares of agricultural and horticultural crops were affected and over 4,800 fishing boats damaged, as per the initial estimates. Relief operations by various government agencies were in full swing in these districts, where 2,51,674 people were being accommodated in 514 relief camps.
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President speaks to CM
Meanwhile, President Ram Nath Kovind spoke to the Chief Minister over phone in relation to the relief operations. The Rashtrapati Bhavan tweeted: “Spoke to the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and inquired about the situation in the aftermath of Cyclone Gaja, expressed condolences to bereaved families. People and government of India are standing by those in distress in the State #PresidentKovind”
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Mr. Palaniswami also announced compensation for farmers, depending on their crops, families in relief camps, those who lost their homes and fishermen whose boats and catamarans are damaged. Those living in camps, those who lost their homes and fishermen who lost their fishing equipment are to be granted ₹5,000 a family, and additionally, ₹3,800 is to be granted for new clothes, vessels and other supplies.
Those who lost their cows/buffaloes, oxen and calves are to get compensation of ₹30,000, ₹25,000 and ₹15,000 per animal respectively. Those who lost goats would get compensation of ₹3,000 per animal.
“Those whose huts are damaged completely would get compensation of ₹10,000, and ₹4,000 for partially damaged huts. Those eligible persons, whose houses or huts are completely damaged, would be given financial assistance,” Mr. Palaniswami said.
Milk from State-run Aavin would be supplied through ration shops. Besides a grant of ₹25 crore each for Rural Development Department and Highways Department, ₹10 crore for Public Works Department and ₹5 crore each for Municipal Administration Department and Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board and ₹2 crore for Health Department, funds have been allotted to the district administrations of cyclone-affected districts.
While ₹5 crore each would be given to Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur and Pudukkottai districts, ₹2.5 crore would be provided to Dindigul district. Sivaganga, Ramanathapuram, Karur, Tiruchi and Theni district administrations would get ₹1 crore each.
Compensation for every affected coconut tree would be ₹1,100, and up to ₹2,64,600 for a hectare of 175 coconut trees as relief and assistance for replanting the crop.
Paddy farmers would get compensation of ₹13,500 for a hectare of affected paddy crop, and it would be applicable for sugarcane, banana, vegetables and flowers too. Cashew farmers would get relief of ₹18,000 per hectare.
The CM said that a total of 86,702 electric poles, 841 distribution transformers and 201 electric sub-stations had been affected.