CPI (M) calls for speedy disbursement of flood relief

CUDDALORE: 

        The district unit of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has urged the authorities to ensure speedy disbursement of compensation to people in flood-affected areas of the district.

        In a statement, district secretary of the party T. Arumugham said that though the government had announced the quantum of relief, it was yet to reach the affected. The party also demanded compensation to the tune of Rs. 2,500 each to daily wage workers, handloom weavers, construction workers and fishermen who lost their livelihood during the rains.

          It suggested implementation of permanent flood control measures such as formation of two new drainage channels to carry excesses from the Velliangal Odai and the Ponneri to the Kollidam, execution of the Aruvamukku scheme at Thiruchopuram to drain water from the Paravanar, and, deepening of the Veeranam tank and the Wellington lake. The party also called upon the authorities to take up the construction of high-level bridges at Thirumanikuzhi and Murugankudi.

          Collector P. Seetharaman has said that of 18 persons who died in rain-related incidents, a compensation of Rs. 2 lakh each had been given so far to eight families. Breeders of 326 of the 335 cattle heads lost in the floods had been given a compensation of Rs. 12.20 lakh. A solatium of Rs. 2.86 crore at the rate of Rs. 5,000 each to 935 of the 1,162 fully damaged huts and Rs. 2,500 each to 11,952 of the 14,595 partly damaged houses had been given.

             The Collector said Village Administrative Officers and agricultural officers had been deployed for collecting details about crops that had suffered damage of 50 per cent and above.

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Rs 635.54 crore sanctioned for four districts

Analysis: PWD Secretary K. Dhanavel inspecting the Veeranam tank in Cuddalore district.

CUDDALORE: 

            The State government has sanctioned a sum of Rs. 635.54 crore under the Flood Management Programme for taking up permanent flood protection works in the four districts of Thanjavaur, Nagapattinam, Tiruvallur and Cuddalore, according to K. Dhanavel, Secretary, Public Works Department.

             After inspecting the Veeranam tank, the Velliangal Odai and the Paravanar, along with Collector P. Seetharman and District Revenue Officer S. Natarajan, he told presspersons that the State used to suffer heavy flood damage during the north-east monsoon every year, particularly during November and December. In the current rainy season, almost all major dams, tanks, ponds and canals were full and some were overflowing.

           Therefore, to prevent the recurring losses on account of floods, the government had earmarked a major part of the funds, Rs. 375.90 crore, for standardisation and strengthening of the banks of the Kollidam in two phases. The first phase would be executed from the head of the Grand Anicut to the Lower Anicut in Thanjavur district and the second phase from the Lower Anicut to the sea front in Cuddalore district. Mr. Dhanavel said that to protect the Cuddalore and Panruti towns from swollen rivers such as the Pennaiyar, the Gedilam, the Uppanar, the Paravanar and the South Malatter, a sum of Rs. 68.41 crore had been set aside.

               Comprehensive flood management works in the Vellar basin, comprising Cuddalore and Villupuram ditricts, would be taken up at a cost of Rs. 164.32 crore. Protective measures along the Araniyar would be taken up at a cost of Rs. 12.41 crore, both on the upstream and downstream of the A.N. Kuppam anicut, and, from the downstream of the Lakshmipuram anicut to Pulicat creek in Tiruvallur district.

              Mr. Dhanavel said that protective measures would be put in place to the Kosasthalaiyar from Napalayam to the sea mouth in Tiruvallur ditrict at a cost of Rs. 14.50 crore. All these works would be completed before March 2012, he said. He also noted that water level in the Veeranam tank had been kept at certain height with a view to meeting the requirements of ayacutdars and drinking water needs of Chennai.

              However, residents in the Veeranam area as well as farmers had expressed an opinion that during the rainy season, the storage could be kept at a reasonable level to avert floods. Their views would be technically examined by experts, he said. The damaged shutters in the water sources would also repaired soon, Mr. Dhanavel added.

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Concrete houses sought for flood-hit families

CUDDALORE: 

           Kattumannarkoil constituency MLA D. Ravikumar has called upon the State government to provide concrete houses under the Kalaignar Housing Scheme to the deserving families which have lost their huts in the floods.

          In a representation handed over to Deputy Chief Minister M.K. Stalin during his visit here on Monday, Mr. Ravikumar said that the entire Cuddalore district, particularly villages in the Kattumannarkoil Assembly constituency, suffered extensive damage to crops and houses.

          Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi's announcement of Rs. 5,000 solatium to damaged houses had come as a consolation to the affected people. However, the MLA demanded a compensation of Rs. 15,000 per hectare of crop losses. Mr. Ravikumar also urged the government to distribute textbooks and uniform to students in the marooned areas, compensation to artisans and fishermen who had lost their livelihood for about a fortnight at a stretch and provide 30 days' work under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme to farm labourers.

            He suggested strengthening of the banks of the Velliangal Odai, the Old Kollidam and the Manavaikkal.

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