Nirmala assures priority under PMAY for houses to Gaja victims

The Defence Minister, who visited Vedaranyam, one of the areas affected most in the wake of Cyclone Gaja, held meeting with the State ministers and officials.

Subsequently, she met the locals at Thopputhurai and assured them that the victims below poverty line in Socio-Economic Survey would be given a priority in getting houses under PMAY and the approvals would be processed immediately. This would also be extended to the people who have lost their houses in all classes. “We request the people to stay patient. Our government will help the recovery of people from the impact of the cyclone in all possible ways,” she assured.

Earlier, Sitharaman had visited several other places affected by the cyclone, accompanied by BJP state president Tamilisai Soundararajan. She inspected the damages caused to huts and boats in Kodiyakarai and interacted with the victims. She also visited Arukatuthurai and interacted with the fishermen who appealed to the Minister to establish groynes and also urged proper compensation to their damaged fishing boats and the tools. The Defence Minister assured of conveying the word to the cabinet.

Subsequently, the Defence Minister visited Kodiyakadu and Agasthiyampalli, where she inspected the flooded salt pans and assured that she would take up their grievances to the Salt Commissioner. Then, she went to Thopputhurai, and distributed relief aid to the victims.

Revenue Minister RB Udhayakumar, Electricity, Prohibition and Excise Minister P Thangamani, and Municipal Administration, Rural Development and Implementation of Special Programme SP Velumani, officials including Principal Secretary of Health and Family Welfare J Radhakrishnan, District Collector S Suresh Kumar and others accompanied the Defence Minister.

After the visit, Sitharaman proceeded to Tiruvarur by road and visited the people accommodated in the relief camps and interacted with them.