Gaja: Notice ordered for better indemnity

A division bench comprising Justice M Sathayanarayanan and Justice P Rajamanickam on ordering notice posted the plea along with connected matters for further hearing to November 29.

M Vellaisamy of Korattur and an advocate at MHC submitted in his public interest litigation that the Cyclone Gaja had wreaked havoc in the delta districts resulting in about 9,000 electric poles, 841 transformers and 201 electric sub-stations being affected. Further, the prime damage caused was the livelihood loss to the farmers with coconut trees and crops suffering severe damages. Moreover, many of them have been rendered homeless.

Noting that the temporary relief centres have failed to cater to those stranded in interior villages in the four districts, the plea submitted that even after a week had lapsed since the cyclone hit, the people in most of the villages were suffering without food and electricity and access to the villages were yet to be established owing to fallen trees.

The plea also noted that as many as 83 villages in Thanjavur district, 43 villages in Pudukottai distritct, 87 villages in Nagapattinam and 53 villages in Vedaranyam district and 47 villages in Thiruvarur are yet to be visited and the damages caused tothe people, trees and live stocks has not been assessed till date.

The plea, however, on holding that the relief announced by the Chief Minister of paying Rs 600 per damaged coconut tree and Rs 500 for clearing each fallen tree and may not be enough taking into consideration the extent of damage caused in all four delta districts, sought the court for a direction to enhance the compensation.

The plea besides seeking for a direction to restore the electricity service connections in a phased manner in all the villages in the delta districts also sought the court to appoint a committee to assess and report regarding the quantum of damage caused to the property.