Puducherry Chief Minister N. Rangasamy sought ₹50-crore interim assistance from the Centre on Thursday for Cyclone Arnab relief work in Yanam. The cyclone caused severe damage to agriculture, housing, and public infrastructure. Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to the Chief Minister and promised to provide all help to restore normalcy.
The Puducherry government has sought an immediate assistance of ₹50 crore from the Centre for carrying out relief operations in Cyclone-affected Yanam region of the Union Territory.
In a letter to Union Minister for Home Affairs and Cooperation Amit Shah on Thursday, Chief Minister N. Rangasamy said Cyclone Arnab had caused severe damage to agriculture, housing, electricity and public infrastructure.
Preliminary assessments indicate complete loss of paddy crop on around 101 hectares, besides damages caused to coconut and banana cultivation. Damages have been reported to 30 houses and fishing equipment, including boats.
Electric poles, roads, drinking water installations, government buildings, including the Government General Hospital, suffered damages. The livelihood of fishermen also got affected in the cyclone, the letter said.
“Yanam region is a small, geographically-separated enclave with limited resources, and the scale of damage to public assets and livelihoods has placed a considerable financial burden on the Union Territory. Central support is essential for timely restoration and rehabilitation of the affected region. Hence, I request your personal intervention for the release of ₹50 crore as immediate Central financial assistance, pending completion of detailed assessments and submission of a comprehensive memorandum to applicable norms,” the Chief Minister said.
Amit Shah speaks to CM
The Chief Minister’s Office in a message said Mr. Shah had earlier in the day spoken to Mr. Rangasamy to take stock of the current situation in Yanam. The Home Minister promised to provide all assistance to restore normalcy in the region, the message said.