Tamil Nadu Chief Minister EK Palaniswamy has announced a relief package for people affected by Cyclone Gaja that devastated eleven coastal and interior districts of the state. Mr Palaniswamy reviewed the situation with senior ministers and higher officials in Chennai yesterday, and later announced that 1,000 crore rupees will be released for the ongoing relief works.

In a statement, the Chief Minister said, 46 people lost their lives in the cyclone, and their families would be given a compensation of ten lakh rupees each. He also announced that 8,800 rupees each would be given to those sheltered in camps or lost their houses and the fishermen who could not go for fishing.

Mr Palaniswamy also appealed to the public to generously contribute to the relief works.
Preliminary estimates say, 88 thousand, One Hundred and Two hectares of irrigated and horticultural crops have suffered huge damages due to the cyclone.

For affected coconut groves, one lakh ninety two thousand and five hundred rupees per hectare would be given as compensation, besides 1100 rupees per fallen coconut tree as relief and towards expenses for removing them. For re-plantation of coconut saplings, 72 thousand and one hundred rupees per hectare would be provided.

For damaged paddy and other irrigated crops, 13 thousand Five Hundred rupees has been announced as the compensation and a subsidy of 40 to 50 percent of the expenses for re-plantation.

A sum of 42 thousand rupees each would be given to fishermen whose catamarans were damaged fully and 20 thousand rupees for partial damage. For fully damaged fiber-reinforced plastic boats known as FRP boats, 85 thousand rupees each would be disbursed and for partially damaged ones, 30 thousand rupees each would be provided.

For mechanized boats, the compensation would be five lakh rupees for full damage and three lakh rupees for partial damage. For the loss of cows and buffaloes, 30 thousand rupees each and for bulls, 25 thousand rupees have been announced, besides three thousand rupees each for lost sheep.

Mr Palaniswamy said, he would visit the affected areas today and disburse the compensation packages.