Rs 18 crore sanctioned for taking relief works

A special cabinet meeting of Kerala government today sanctioned Rs 18 crore to take up urgent relief works in places effected by sea erosion since the on-set of monsoon in the coastal areas of the state.
Nine coastal districts have been affected with many houses damaged, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told reporters after the meeting, that discussed the damage caused due to tidal waves in coastal areas.
Out of the nine districts Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Allappuzha, Ernakulam and Malappuram were badly affected, he said.
It has been decided to open relief camps wherever necessay and rehabilitate those who lost houses by providing them with alternate houses, he said.

Irrigation department have been entrusted with the task of repair sea walls which collapsed, he said.
Free ration food articles will be provided for one week to those fishermen who are unable to venture out into the sea and to those families who are most affected by sea erosion.

District Collectors have been instructed to give compensation to those who have lost their homes and also properties, he said.
Irrigation department has been instructed to take immediate steps to prevent sea walls from collapsing.
Health department has been asked to take necessary steps to prevent the outbreak of contagious diseases.

Meanwhile, Chandy held talks with a central team that was in the state to evaluate the damages caused to crops and property in summer rains.
A comparison was made with previous summer rain disasters in the state and was presented before the central team.
It was estimated that damage to a tune of Rs 141.65 crore has occurred in the state and this was communicated to the team.
Central team members told the meeting that the report will be presented before Union Government within seven days. The team also visited many affected places.