Rain forecast for delta ahead of Central team’s visit

While the entire delta reagion is anxiously awaiting the inspection by the Central team on Saturday to assess the damage caused by Gaja, heavy rain lashed the region on Friday. What has turned out to be a matter of concern for the cyclone-affected victims is the weather forecast, which predicts downpour in the next couple of days as well.

Meteriological Centre officials predict that heavy rain would continue due to the low pressure in districts like Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, Ramanathapuram, Sivagangai, Virudhunagar, Pudukottai, Ariyalur, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur and Thanjavur and Kanniyakumari. Sources said there will be a break in the rainfall till November 29 in the Delta region.

Meanwhile, five of the seven-member Inter-Ministerial team deputed by the Central government arrived in Chennai on Friday night. Two other members — one from Hyderabad and the other from Chennai — would join the team. Official sources said the team would be headed by Union Home Ministry Joint Secretary Daniel Richard.

The other members of the team included Finance Ministry Department of Expenditure Consultant RB Kaul, Department of Agriculture Cooperation and Farmers Welfare, Hyderabad, Director In-charge BK Srivastava, Ministry of Rural Development DS Manik Chandra Pandit, Ministry of Power Ms Vandana Singhal, Ministry of Water Resources Chennai Director J Harsha and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways Superintending Engineer R Ellavarason of Chennai.

The team will hold talks with Chief Secretary Girija Vaidyanathan and then proceed to the districts, starting from Pudukkottai.

After completing their assessment, the team is set to return to Chennai on Monday. Later, the team will meet Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, and then proceed to Delhi. The team would assess the damages caused to houses, farmers and horticultural crops, banana plantations, coconut groves, electric poles, road infrastructure and submit a report to the Centre. More on P6, P7