Chennai: The State government has disbursed relief to nearly 99 per cent of the Gaja-hit families and currently the rehabilitation work is progressing apace, State Revenue Minister R. B. Udayakumar has said.
Contending that the State government had covered all affected areas in the coastal districts that have been ravaged by the cyclone, Mr. Udayakumar said the extent of losses were assessed and the relief distributed to the affected. “Nearly 99 per cent of those affected by the cyclone Gaja has been provided with relief, as per the instructions of Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami and currently work is on to rehabilitate the displaced,” he told reporters here on Wednesday.
It may be recalled the bye-election to the Tiruvarur Assembly constituency scheduled for Jan. 28 was cancelled as the election commission found that the situation was not conducive for holding the election. Several political parties had wanted the Election Commission to defer the bye-poll and facilitate the smooth implementation of relief and restoration activities.
The parties contended that the relief work would be hampered if the EC enforced the model code of conduct and hence sought the postponment of election. The State government too had written to the ECI not to hold bye-elections in any of the 20 vacant constituencies in Tamil Nadu till April.
Announcing cancellation of the bye-election, the EC said it would hold the poll in due course when the situation became conducive to a holding free, fair and peaceful election.
