The Union Government has stated that Cyclone Fengal, which struck Tamil Nadu in December of last year, was considered as a disaster of a 'severe nature'. The state government had urged the Union government to declare the cyclonic storm as a ‘disaster of severe nature’ on December 27.
A communication reportedly sent by the Union Home Ministry to the Tamil Nadu government stated that it considered Cyclone Fengal as a disaster of severe nature for all practical purposes due to its intensity and magnitude. “In the event of a disaster of a severe nature, financial assistance towards the notified natural disasters, including cyclone, is met from State Disaster Response Fund already placed at their (State government) disposal, which is further supplemented from the National Disaster Response Fund in accordance with the established procedure, which includes an assessment based on the visit of an inter-ministerial Central team,” the communication added.
The state government had requested a substantial financial package of over Rs 6,000 crore from the Union government to support relief, rehabilitation, and infrastructure rebuilding in cyclone-affected areas. A compensation of Rs 5 lakh was also announced to the families of those who lost their lives due to the cyclone. Residents of the worst-affected districts -- Villupuram, Kallakurichi, and Cuddalore -- were promised Rs 2,000 each as immediate financial aid.
Other relief measures announced by the Tamil Nadu government include financial aid of Rs 2,000 for ration card holders whose livelihoods have been disrupted in Villupuram, Kallakurichi, and Cuddalore districts.
The crop compensation includes Rs 17,000 per hectare for irrigated crops (including paddy) damaged by 33 per cent or more, Rs 22,500 per hectare for perennial crops and trees with damage exceeding 33 per cent; a compensation of Rs 8,500 per hectare for rain-fed crops damaged by 33 per cent or more.
The state government has assessed a compensation of Rs 37,500 for each buffalo or cow lost; Rs 4,000 for each goat or sheep lost and Rs 100 for each chicken lost.
An amount of Rs 10,000 will be provided as compensation for mud huts damaged by floods.
Chief Minister MK Stalin, in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had sought an interim relief of Rs 2,000 crore from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) and additional financial assistance based on the findings of the central assessment team. He had highlighted the widespread devastation caused by the cyclone, which resulted in torrential rains and heavy winds across the state.
It may be noted that in the rains followed by Cyclone Fengal, 12 people died while 2,11,139 hectares of agricultural and horticultural lands were inundated.
The cyclone destroyed 1,649 kilometres of electric conductors, 23,664 electric poles, and 997 transformers. It also caused damage to 9,576 kilometres of roads, 1,847 culverts and 417 tanks.
Villupuram, Tiruvannamalai and Kallakurichi districts experienced over 50 cm of rainfall in a single day, equivalent to an entire season’s average, leading to severe flooding.
The cyclone affected 69 lakh families and displaced 1.5 crore individuals. The state government’s initial assessment estimates Rs 2,475 crore is required for temporary restoration efforts.
(With inputs from IANS)