Date:01/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/01/stories/2008120155180600.htm

Tamil Nadu

Doctors to take care of the rain-hit in Nagapattinam

Special Correspondent

NAGAPATTINAM: Twenty doctors would arrive in the district along with Sandeep Saxena of the Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation Limited to render care to rain-affected people, Collector M. Jayaraman has said.

Ten of the doctors would take care of public health centres while the other 10 would man taluk hospitals. Medical supplies would also be procured from the Tiruvarur depot.

“Chief Engineer (WRO) of the Public Works Department and Executive Engineers in charge of different areas will look to seal the breaches at the earliest and also provide a long-term plan to provide embankments capable of withstanding 1,000 mm average rainfall,” Mr. Jayaraman told.

A special grievances day meeting would be held on Tuesday for farmers affected by the rains. Farmers in Nagapattinam division may attend the meeting at 10 a.m. at the Collectorate, while farmers in Mayiladuthurai division are requested to come to the RMayiladuthurai RDO at 3 p.m.

A three-member team comprising the Village Administrative Officer, the Assistant Agriculture Officer and the Assistant Horticultural Officer has also been formed to assess crop losses in each village, the Collector said.

Teams comprising the Village Administrative Officer, panchayat president and the Makkal Nala Paniyalar have been appointed for each village to assess house damages due to the recent rains. For urban areas, the teams would include the particular ward member and the revenue collector. Based on the reports of these teams, disbursal of Rs. 2,000 and 10 kg of rice to affected families would begin from Monday, Mr. Jayaraman said.