Cyclone Fengal: M.K. Stalin Unveils Relief Package for Affected Families
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Chennai, Dec 3 (NationPress) The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M.K. Stalin, has introduced a robust relief package for individuals impacted by the severe rains and flooding instigated by Cyclone Fengal across various regions of the state.
The announcement stemmed from a high-level meeting held at the Secretariat on Tuesday. As part of the relief initiative, the Tamil Nadu government will allocate Rs 5 lakh to families who have tragically lost loved ones due to the cyclone and subsequent floods.
The Chief Minister elaborated on several measures included in the relief package. Under this plan, Rs 2,000 will be disbursed to ration card holders whose livelihoods have been adversely affected in Villupuram, Cuddalore, and Kallakurichi districts. Additionally, Rs 17,000 per hectare will be provided as compensation for damaged standing crops (irrigated, including paddy) with a loss of 33 percent or more, Rs 22,500 per hectare for perennial crops and trees (damage above 33 percent), and Rs 8,500 per hectare for rain-fed crops with similar damage.
The package includes compensation of Rs 37,500 for each buffalo or cow lost, Rs 4,000 for each goat or sheep, and Rs 100 for each chicken lost.
A minimum of Rs 10,000 will be allocated for mud huts that were damaged during the floods.
To assist individuals who lost important documents in the disaster, special camps will be organized in affected districts to issue new certificates, voter ID cards, Aadhaar cards, and family cards.
The government will also ensure that students from affected families receive new textbooks and notebooks.
District collectors from Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, and Tiruvannamalai, which experienced significant damage due to the cyclone, have been directed to submit detailed reports regarding the most affected areas to the government for further assistance.
On Monday, Chief Minister Stalin sent a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting the release of Rs 2,000 crore from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) as interim support for rescue, relief, and rehabilitation efforts.
In his correspondence, Stalin emphasized the extensive destruction caused by heavy rains and winds throughout Tamil Nadu.
In the letter, the Chief Minister informed the Prime Minister that 12 lives were lost, with 2,11,139 hectares of agricultural and horticultural land inundated, and significant damage to 1,649 kilometers of electric conductors, 23,664 electric poles, and 997 transformers. Furthermore, 9,576 kilometers of roads, 1,847 culverts, and 417 tanks were also affected.
The disaster displaced a large number of people, impacting 69 lakh families and 1.5 crore individuals. Districts such as Villupuram, Tiruvannamalai, and Kallakurichi recorded over 50 cm of rainfall in a single day, equivalent to the average for an entire season, leading to severe flooding and extensive damage to infrastructure and agriculture.
The initial assessment by the state government estimates that approximately Rs 2,475 crore will be necessary for temporary restoration efforts.
Chief Minister Stalin remarked, “Despite our diligent efforts, the magnitude of this disaster has overwhelmed the resources of the state, and we urgently require financial assistance to address the aftermath.”
He urged the Prime Minister to expedite the release of Rs 2,000 crore from the NDRF for emergency restoration and rehabilitation initiatives. He also sought the deployment of a central team to conduct a thorough evaluation of the damage.
The Chief Minister further requested additional financial aid based on the central team’s findings, stressing that such support is crucial to tackle the unprecedented impact on infrastructure, agriculture, and livelihoods in the affected districts.
