Date:06/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/06/stories/2009010658910400.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Ambattur councillors observe fast for providing flood relief to all residents

Staff Reporter

— Photo: S.Thanthoni

United for a cause: Ambattur Municipality councillors cutting across parties observe fast in front of Municipality office on Monday

CHENNAI: The Ambattur Municipality councillors cutting across parties went on fast on Monday in front of the municipality office demanding equitable distribution of flood relief among the affected residents.

Thirty-four of the 52 councillors excluding those from the ruling party participated in the protest meeting. The councillors demanded that the authorities provide flood relief to all the residents who were affected during the recent rains.

Ward 32 councillor Uma Kannan said that many people affected by the floods did not receive the relief amount of Rs. 2,000. Only 30-40 per cent of the affected residents in each ward have been provided with the flood relief.

Ward 11 councillor Nagarani Mohanarangam said that councillors were often held responsible by the residents for not receiving the flood assistance. There are about 4 lakh ration card holders in Ambattur municipality.

The councillors said that there has been confusion over identifying the beneficiaries of the low income group eligible for the assistance. They demanded that flood relief must be extended to all the affected residents in each of the wards. The Ambattur chairman K.N. Sekar also extended his support to the protest meeting. The indefinite fast was called off in the evening with the Ambattur Tahsildar S. Palani assuring the councillors that the Tiruvallur Collectorate has asked for more funds from the State government towards relief assistance. The problems related to distribution of relief amount would be resolved in four or five days.