Tamil Nadu allocates Rs 700 cr more for cyclone-hit

Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa has announced additional funds of Rs 700 crore towards relief and restoration of infrastructure damaged due to cyclone Thane in the state. This is in addition to the Rs 150 crore earlier announced by the state. The amount has been allotted towards relief (loss of houses, crops, cattle, boats) and restoration of infrastructure (power lines, roads, drinking water distribution) damaged by the cyclone.

Of the Rs 700 crore, Rs 300 crore is for the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board to restore power supply, Rs 166 crore for damaged crops, Rs 114 crore to repair damaged huts, Rs 50 crore to supply drinking water, Rs 20 crore to repair fishing boats and Rs 50 crore for miscellaneous expenditure.

The chief minister said her government would also pay enhanced compensation of Rs 10,000 per hectare for damaged paddy fields, Rs 9,000 per hectare for jackfruit and cashew nut crops and Rs 7,500 per hectare for irrigated crops.

State owned Aavin is supplying 35,000 litre of milk in Cuddalore, where there is an acute shortage.

The financial relief package for people whose houses were damaged would be released by Jan 5.

According to reports, cyclone Thane in Tamil Nadu and Puduchery would have caused an economic loss of Rs 1,500-2,000 crore.