Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Rs.1,000 announced as flood relief

CHENNAI: Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi has announced a relief of Rs.1,000 for houses located in waterlogged areas. Such houses in Chennai and surrounding areas would be entitled for a relief of Rs.2,000.

Mr.Karunanidhi made this announcement at the first meeting of a Cabinet Sub-Committee constituted to oversee flood relief operations. Local Administration Minister M.K.Stalin will head the Committee.

The meeting was informed that 177 persons had died in floods from November 19 to December 2. As many as 2,782 heads of cattle perished, 61,216 huts were damaged fully and 1.57 lakh partially.

Mr.Karunanidhi ordered immediate payment of relief to the affected. Each Minister will have to submit a progress report at the next meeting of the committee on December 6.

The fresh guidelines given to access rain affected homes and huts need to be followed and the final numbers shall be arrived at soon, he said. Flood affected huts would be eligible for Rs.2000 and 10 kg rice.

As many as 8.8 lakh persons were living in 1,327 relief camps across the State. So far, 14.87 lakh food packets have been distributed to the flood affected. Flood waters have affected standing crops on 7.72 hectares.

Mr.Stalin and the Cabinet Subcommittee later held a meeting with officials in which details of the disbursement of relief was worked out.

A sentence in a report "Rs.1,000 announced as flood relief" (Tamil Nadu, December 3, 2008) was "Flood waters have affected standing crops on 7.72 hectares." It should have been 7.72 lakh hectares.

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