Kochi Collector asks Rs 3 crore relief from government for monsoon damages

Kochi: District collector M.G Rajamanickam has sought Rs 3 crore from the state government for emergency relief measures to tackle widespread damage caused due to heavy rains that lashed the district in June and July. He was attending the video conferencing called by Revenue Minister Adoor Prakash to assess the damage caused due to the heavy downpour in various districts.

As many as seven deaths, including that of a child, were reported in Ernakulam. According to the collector, due to the disparities in the yardsticks of the Centre and State governments in assessing damage, the district administration finds it difficult to fix the compensation for loss of agriculture crops. Compensation for loss of crops should be provided as per the Union government’s norms. The Revenue Minister has agreed to issue a circular to address the matter.

As per the State government’s assessment, loss in agriculture sector in Ernakulam amounts to Rs 6.7 cr while the damage amounts to only Rs 91 lakhs as per the Centre’s norms.

In the district, five houses were completely damged and 53 houses were partially ruined in heavy rains. Damage to houses and crops is more in Muvattupuzha and Kunanthunad areas. A rehabilitation camp has been opened in Chendamangalam at Paravur taluk where 20 members of six families are camping. A 45-member team of the Disaster Response Force has reached the district.

Meanwhile after the continuous heavy rains which marooned several parts of the district the risk of infectious diseases looms large, according to health experts.