With the Central team inspecting Gaja-ravaged districts for the second day on Sunday, farmers and local residents have claimed that their visit is nothing but an eyewash as they toured only along the main roads, skipping interior areas and not interacting with the people.
The team interacting with locals at Thanjavur
Thiruchirapalli:
The team, headed by Daniel E Richard, a senior official in the Union Home Ministry, commenced their visit to the cyclone-hit areas from Pudukkottai at Kulathur near Keeranur on Saturday. The team later rushed to Gandhi Nagar, Mettupatti and Vadakadu when it was almost 7 pm. Since it was almost dark generators were brought and the team stayed for just 10 minutes and interacted with the officials and political leaders and rushed to Thanjavur.
They failed to visit Gandharvakottai, Sempatti viduthi, Mangadu and Alangudi where there was heavy damage to crops like cashew, jackfruit, banana and coconut. “The police denied us permission to communicate with the team. The members only spoke to the politicians and did not interact with us,” said Ramachandran, a farmer from Sempatti Viduthi. He also said that the team stayed for 45 minutes in Pudikkottai.
On Sunday, the team visited Thanjavur. The people were reportedly informed that the team would arrive in Pattukottai at 7 am and local residents had gathered in the area since 6.45 am. However, the team failed to reach on time and by then the people attempted to stage a protest but the police brought the situation under control. The team reached Pattukkottai at 9:30 am and then moved to Pulavankadu. “The team is swifter than Gaja and fled the spot within minutes,” said farmers leader PR Pandian.
“The Central team always assesses damage as fast as computers,” another farmer leader Swamimalai S Vimalnathan said. He said that more than 90 per cent of the coconut farms have been damaged in Pattukkottai, Peravurani and Orathanadu, Thanjavur and they have not visited the most affected-villages.
Meanwhile, Thajudeen, State secretary, mechanised boat owners association, said, “The team which visited Mallipattinam boat jetty failed to interact with the fishermen who were waiting there with their demands. The officials and police prevented the people to access the team. What will be the outcome after this?” Later, Richard said the damage caused by Gaja has been extensive. He will submit the report to the Centre and they will decide on the compensation.
Team witnesses agony first-hand in Thanjai
The Central team which visited Thanjavur and Tiruvaur on Sunday witnessed the famers and public pouring out their demands and complaints and a few even prostrated before them appealing for proper assessment and compensation while the team assured of fulfilling their demands with recommendations of compensation through their reports submitted to the Centre.
The seven member team led by Daniel E Richard, a senior official in the Union Home Ministry in New Delhi, convened a meeting at the Thanjavur district Collectorate on Sunday with the officials.
At 9 am, the team started their visit from Orathanadu Puthur area where A Prabha, a student told the members that their house was completely collapsed and replacing a tile need Rs 50 per piece while the old tiles costs Rs 30 per piece and for the past 10 days, they were left with no water, sanitation and proper food.
Subsequently, the team went round the house and recorded the details.
While the team went round the coconut grove at Pulavankadu near Pattukottai, a woman rushed towards the team and fell at their feet pleading to save their life and wanted a proper compensation for the damage as they were not able to recover from the loss. Soon the police evacuated her and the team left the spot.
Subsequently, the team visited the EB Sub Station damaged at Nemmelithippiyakudi near Pattukkottai and went to Mallipattinam boat jetty where they stayed for 10 minutes and they did not listen to the fishermen waiting there with a series of demands.