Gaja: Reports on planned relief work to be submitted

Further, the government was also told to submit a copy of the petition presented to the Centre seeking assistance to carry out relief works.

A public interest litigation petition filed by lawyer G Thirumurugan, Ramanathapuram seeking direction to expedite relief measures came up for hearing before a Division Bench of Justices K K Sasidharan and P D Audikesavalu on Thursdady. Thirumurugan in his petition claimed that the lives of more than 45 persons were lost when cyclone Gaja devastated Thanjavur, Nagapattinam, Pudukkottai and Tiruvarur districts on November 16. In its aftermath, around 82,000 people, who lost their houses, were facing innumerable difficulties. Electricity supply and transport service were also completely affected. Further, lakhs of victims were struggling without food and shelter, Thirumurugan stated in his petition. Citing this, the petitioner said the State government should provide compensation of at least Rs 25 lakh each to the dead and Rs 10 lakh each to those who suffered injuries.

Meanwhile, Additional Advocate General Chellapandian in his petition stated that relief works were in progress at a rapid pace and out of 66,32,718 houses, which suffered power outage after electricity poles were damaged, supply had been restored to 52,82,804 houses. Restoration works were also on to resume the supply in rest of the houses.

V Kathirvelu, Assistant Solicitor General of India, said the National Disaster Response Force personnel reached Tamil Nadu ahead of the cyclone and currently seven teams were involved in restoration works in cyclone-hit regions.

Alagumani, the counsel of the petitioner, intervened and said no restoration work has been done in rural areas and even basic facilities were yet to be restored. On hearing the petitions, the bench adjourned the case to November 26.