Central team visits rain damaged areas of Kanyakumari district

MADURAI: A three-member central team visited rain-affected areas of Kanyakumari district in Tamil Nadu on Monday.
The team -- comprising R B Kaul, a consultant in ministry of finance, P Thangamani, director ministry of water resources, and Bhavya Pandey, assistant director, ministry of power -- visited Pillaipethan Anaicut in North Thamaraikulam, where there was a river bund breach. The breach in the channel and road damage in Kmaracoil were also inspected.
The team also inspected Peyankuzhi, APTA market, Therekkal and Thirupathisaram. In Vaikkaloor, three spots including a place where the river changed course were inspected by the team.
Speaking to reporters in Padmanabapuram, Kaul said that they had visited the spots in a selective manner but had received the complete report of the damage assessed thus far in forms of memorandums. Kaul said that the two central teams visiting the state would submit a consolidated report on the damage to the union government.
The extent of crop damage had been estimated at 75 hectares of paddy and 45 hectares of banana crops thus far. As the water was yet to recede in some places, the entire crop damage was yet to be assessed, said officials.
Kanyakumari district collector M Aravind said they had submitted a proposal for Rs 100 crore for temporary restoration of infrastructure including those under the PWD and highways. Complete restoration may require about Rs 250 crore, he said.