Thanjavur: Victims of Gaja cyclone who lost their huts, when their area was ravaged by the cyclone on November 16 last year, were provided with new huts at Sembaruthi village in Rendampulikadu panchayat near Peravurani in Thanjavur district on Wednesday.
V. Ponraj, former scientific adviser to Dr A. P.J. Abdual Kalam, former president of India, handed over the huts constructed at a cost of Rs ten lakh to the victims.
The ‘Abdul Kalam Ilatchiya India Iyakkam’, ‘Ramnad Royals Rotary Club’, Senthamil Makkal Sports and Cultural Connect, North Carolina, USA, and Nagercoil South Rotary Club have jointly taken up the project and constructed the huts.
Ponraj said that these houses were only temporary. Both State and central governments should come forward to provide the victims with permanent houses that would not be damaged by disasters like cyclone in future. Steps would be taken to provide them ‘pattas’ by talking to the district collector. Free electricity connections will also be provided to them, he said.
As many as 42 solar lanterns were also provided to the people. Chinnadurai Abdullah of Rotary trust and J.K. Kumar, former Rotary governor, participated in the function that cheered the locals.
