Enumeration of damage nearly over in Nagapattinam

Speaking at the review meeting, Nagapattinam Collector Dr S Suresh Kumar said that the compensation for the victims, who suffered maximum loss, was being disbursed.

Detailing the process, he said that the completely damaged houses were being given priority in the compensation distribution by the officials across the district. Thalaignayiru Setthi in Thalaignaiyiuru block and Vallam in Keezhaiyur block were the worst-affected and at present compensation was being disbursed in these two locations.

“We have nearly completed the work on creating the database of damage assessment and hope to finish it in all the 181 villages by this week. To expedite the work, staff have been instructed to make data entry round the clock. The victims identified for compensation will receive message on their phones,” the Collector added.

In Nagapattinam district, around 1.11 lakh houses were damaged, including 22,224 partially damaged huts and 11,112 concrete houses, in 181 villages. The compensation process starts with a survey by VAOs in their respective areas. The information submitted by VAOs was being fed into computers at in EGS Pillay Engineering College. Then the data would be compiled following which staff from the from National Informatics Centre (NIC) would be involved in the process of the bill preparation. The bills would then be sent to the state treasury and then to respective banks through the RBI and, finally, for the online transaction to bank accounts of the victims,” the Collector explained.

Meanwhile, the Collector said that the victims with multiple losses, like houses, crops and cattle, might get all of the compensation in a single credit and but would get it in a phased manner prioritised by the administration.

The district administration has instructed officials not to avail leave until the process was completed. According to officials, the enumeration survey has been completed in 179 out 181 revenue villages, data of 94 pockets have been entered and 79 more were being carried out.

Meanwhile, the monitoring officer Gagandeep Singh Bedi said that there 10 more IAS officials have been deputed to oversee the assessment and compensation distribution.